Page 13, Friday June 26, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Upper West Regional Co-ordinating Director, Mr David Yakubu, has bemoaned the lack of provision of the right mix of high calibre of staff for district assemblies and the sub-district structures, noting that the situation has hampered development in the rural areas.
He said many district assemblies, especially the newly created ones, did not have adequate human capacity to ensure their development goals.
“The central administration of most district assemblies, especially the newly created ones lack planning and budget officers for the preparation of good plans for the development of the assemblies,” he noted.
Mr Yakubu was presenting a paper on the topic “Enhancing the capacity of newly created district assemblies to ensure the achievement of effective development goals” at a workshop in We.
It was organised by the Parliamentary Press Corps and sponsored by the Office of the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF).
Participants included District Chief Executives (DCEs) and Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Upper West Region and members of the Parliamentary Press Corps.
Mr Yakubu said it was sad that apart from the Ghana Education Service, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Ghana Health Service, most of the other departments in the region either had caretaker officers or at best a “one person” department.
He said in the midst of inadequate staffing, there was a serious challenge of coordination, since most departments of the various assemblies still worked in isolation or under their regional heads instead of the assemblies.
Mr Yakubu said that had further weakened the collaborative efforts needed to enhance the human resource capacity of the assemblies.
He also identified lack of capacity on the part of assembly members to play effective roles and functions as the greatest challenge facing newly created assemblies in particular and all other assemblies in general.
Mr Yakubu said since many assembly members did not know or appreciate their roles and functions, they were unable to discuss issues affecting their constituents and the assemblies.
He, therefore, suggested that provision of human resource for the newly created assemblies should be well planned and systematic, adding that because of the rural nature of the assemblies, incentive packages should be instituted to entice high calibre of staff to accept postings to those areas.
Mr Yakubu called for the institution of continuous training programmes to be designed for all the staff at the district and sub-district levels, as well as for the assembly members to enhance their capacities.
He also suggested provision of additional financial resources outside of the DACF, while provision of some infrastructural development in the new assemblies should be taken up by the central government.
Touching on the theme for the workshop, “Transparency and Accountability: Pillars for Effective Decentralisation”, the Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yieleh Chireh, said it behoved all Ghanaians, especially those placed in positions of trust, to live up to their responsibilities.
He stated that transparency and accountability, as a means of propelling effective decentralisation, could only be achieved through informed participation of the people at the community level.
Mr Chireh gave assurance that the government was committed to the tenets of effective decentralisation and local government administration through participation, transparency and accountability as indicated in its manifesto.
He said the recent announcement of the introduction of town hall meetings with community members of the various districts was an added leap to transparency and accountability of governance, especially at the local levels.
Mr Chireh noted that although Ghana had chalked up successes over the years in its decentralisation process, the country could do better if it considered transparency and accountability as the corner pillars of its decentralised local government administration.
For his part, the Administrator of the DACF, Mr Joshua Magnesia Nicol, called on the media to rebuild public trust, expectation and the confidence in the district assemblies as the institutions that had the capacity to provide sustained development.
“The media may have to intensify their role of informing and educating the public and of exposing mistakes of metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies,” he said.
Friday, June 26, 2009
Deputy minister confirms demolition exercise
Page 12, Fri June 26, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
DEPUTY Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Dr Hannah Bissiw, yesterday told Parliament that about 41 houses and structures would have to be demolished in order to properly clear the Lafa Drain of silt and construct it to help prevent flooding in some parts of Accra during rainfalls.
The Lafa Stream, which stretches over 11 km, flows through Mallam Kokoroko, Awoshie, Santa Maria, and Race Course and, according to the deputy minister, “to alleviate the flooding situation within the Lafa Basin, there should be free flow of runoff from upstream to the outfall”.
“That could be only achieved when structures located on the [watercourse] are relocated or removed,” she added in response to a question posed by the MP for Ablekuma North, Mr Justice Joe Appiah.
Mr Appiah wanted to know from the sector minister when silt in the Lafa River would be cleared to prevent the perennial problem of flooding whenever it rains.
Dr Bissiw noted that the natural alignment of the Lafa Drain had been seriously encroached upon.
She indicated that apart from areas beyond the Motorway Crossing at Mallam where channel improvement or construction of the drain could be carried out without any restrictions, houses had been built either in the drain’s right of way or very close to it at several places.
She said the Hydrological Services Department had been carrying out periodic channel deepening and widening of stretches that allow access and space for machinery.
The deputy minister noted that the removal of structures on the watercourse would enable the Hydrological Services Department of the ministry to carry out full designs and costing of the entire works to be carried out in the Lafa Catchment for further action.
The deputy minister also told the House that the Community Water and Sanitation Agency would initiate a process of procurement for the rehabilitation of the Binduri Small Town Water Supply System once an ongoing review was completed.
Responding to a question by the MP for Binduri, Mr Stephen Yakubu, on steps being taken to resolve the water problems in Binduri, she said the ongoing review was focused on project profiles in all the 10 regions under the CWSA’s investment budget.
Dr Bissiw said works to be undertaken at the Binduri Small Town Water Supply System included drilling an additional borehole to augment the existing source of water, connecting the system to the national grid, laying new transmission line, constructing a new pump house and expanding existing network.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
DEPUTY Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Dr Hannah Bissiw, yesterday told Parliament that about 41 houses and structures would have to be demolished in order to properly clear the Lafa Drain of silt and construct it to help prevent flooding in some parts of Accra during rainfalls.
The Lafa Stream, which stretches over 11 km, flows through Mallam Kokoroko, Awoshie, Santa Maria, and Race Course and, according to the deputy minister, “to alleviate the flooding situation within the Lafa Basin, there should be free flow of runoff from upstream to the outfall”.
“That could be only achieved when structures located on the [watercourse] are relocated or removed,” she added in response to a question posed by the MP for Ablekuma North, Mr Justice Joe Appiah.
Mr Appiah wanted to know from the sector minister when silt in the Lafa River would be cleared to prevent the perennial problem of flooding whenever it rains.
Dr Bissiw noted that the natural alignment of the Lafa Drain had been seriously encroached upon.
She indicated that apart from areas beyond the Motorway Crossing at Mallam where channel improvement or construction of the drain could be carried out without any restrictions, houses had been built either in the drain’s right of way or very close to it at several places.
She said the Hydrological Services Department had been carrying out periodic channel deepening and widening of stretches that allow access and space for machinery.
The deputy minister noted that the removal of structures on the watercourse would enable the Hydrological Services Department of the ministry to carry out full designs and costing of the entire works to be carried out in the Lafa Catchment for further action.
The deputy minister also told the House that the Community Water and Sanitation Agency would initiate a process of procurement for the rehabilitation of the Binduri Small Town Water Supply System once an ongoing review was completed.
Responding to a question by the MP for Binduri, Mr Stephen Yakubu, on steps being taken to resolve the water problems in Binduri, she said the ongoing review was focused on project profiles in all the 10 regions under the CWSA’s investment budget.
Dr Bissiw said works to be undertaken at the Binduri Small Town Water Supply System included drilling an additional borehole to augment the existing source of water, connecting the system to the national grid, laying new transmission line, constructing a new pump house and expanding existing network.
‘Improve budgetary allocation to CHRAJ’
Page 12, June 26, 2009
Story; Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs has urged the government to improve the budgetary allocation to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to enable it work more efficiently.
In a report on the commission laid before the House, the committee said that would “enable the commission improve the conditions of service of its staff and also attract and retain its skilled personnel for better service delivery”.
The report noted that the commission continued to grapple with a number of challenges which had the tendency of undermining the effective discharge of its mandate.
“Notable amongst these challenges are; severe resource constraints, poor conditions of service and high turn over of skilled personnel and other high calibre staff of the commission,” the report noted.
It said, for instance, during the year under the review, the institution lost 10 of its “limited number” of lawyers to other sister-institutions with more attractive conditions of service adding that currently the commission had only 20 lawyers at post.
According to the report, since its inception, the commission had always operated with budgetary constraints and ceilings imposed by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.
It said that challenge had always made it extremely difficult for the commission to implement a number of planned programmes and activities.
“The committee further identified the delay in release of funds by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning especially during the last quarter of the year,” the report noted and said that had continuously undermined the commission’s efforts over the years in implementing its programme of activities on schedule.
“This difficulty finds expression in the delay in publishing and presenting the commission’s annual report to Parliament within time,” the report said.
The committee, however, noted that inspite of the constraints confronting CHRAJ, the commission continues to deliver on its mandate and was able to settle 80 per cent of the 14,953 cases it received within the year.
The report said cases ranged from human rights, administrative justice to corruption. It said in all human rights related cases accounted for 13,249, representing 88.6 per cent of the total number of cases. It also indicated that administrative justice and corruption – related cases were 1,671 and 33 representing 11.2 per cent and 0.2 per cent respectively.
The report also indicated that children’s rights-related cases recorded a total of 6,118 representing 41 per cent of the overall sum of complaints received while women’s rights-related cases accounted for 1,270 representing 8.5 per cent.
“It is also gratifying to note that the commission was able to successfully draft a code of conduct to guide public officials in the discharge of their duties,” it stated adding that the code was intended to institutionalise response to conflict of interest, challenges confronting private persons and public officials in the discharge of their duties.
Story; Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Parliamentary Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs has urged the government to improve the budgetary allocation to the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to enable it work more efficiently.
In a report on the commission laid before the House, the committee said that would “enable the commission improve the conditions of service of its staff and also attract and retain its skilled personnel for better service delivery”.
The report noted that the commission continued to grapple with a number of challenges which had the tendency of undermining the effective discharge of its mandate.
“Notable amongst these challenges are; severe resource constraints, poor conditions of service and high turn over of skilled personnel and other high calibre staff of the commission,” the report noted.
It said, for instance, during the year under the review, the institution lost 10 of its “limited number” of lawyers to other sister-institutions with more attractive conditions of service adding that currently the commission had only 20 lawyers at post.
According to the report, since its inception, the commission had always operated with budgetary constraints and ceilings imposed by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning.
It said that challenge had always made it extremely difficult for the commission to implement a number of planned programmes and activities.
“The committee further identified the delay in release of funds by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning especially during the last quarter of the year,” the report noted and said that had continuously undermined the commission’s efforts over the years in implementing its programme of activities on schedule.
“This difficulty finds expression in the delay in publishing and presenting the commission’s annual report to Parliament within time,” the report said.
The committee, however, noted that inspite of the constraints confronting CHRAJ, the commission continues to deliver on its mandate and was able to settle 80 per cent of the 14,953 cases it received within the year.
The report said cases ranged from human rights, administrative justice to corruption. It said in all human rights related cases accounted for 13,249, representing 88.6 per cent of the total number of cases. It also indicated that administrative justice and corruption – related cases were 1,671 and 33 representing 11.2 per cent and 0.2 per cent respectively.
The report also indicated that children’s rights-related cases recorded a total of 6,118 representing 41 per cent of the overall sum of complaints received while women’s rights-related cases accounted for 1,270 representing 8.5 per cent.
“It is also gratifying to note that the commission was able to successfully draft a code of conduct to guide public officials in the discharge of their duties,” it stated adding that the code was intended to institutionalise response to conflict of interest, challenges confronting private persons and public officials in the discharge of their duties.
Appointments were suspended for lack of merit — Mumuni
Page 12, Friday June 26, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, yesterday told Parliament that the appointments of 40 persons into the Foreign Service was suspended because they were not based on the principles of meritocracy and justice.
He explained that prior to those appointments, a shortlist of 157 persons had been interviewed and although the interview panel recommended the top-ranked 30 interviewees for appointment, only 11 out of the top 30 were issued appointment letters.
He added that 22 others who had taken part in the interview but could not make it into the first 30 and seven others who did not participate in the interview at all were rather issued with appointment letters.
He was responding to a question posed by the MP for Weija, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, on what had become of the appointments of “30 entry level foreign service officers whose appointments were revoked by the Transition Team in January 2009”.
Subsequently, he said after a review of the appointments, the top 30 candidates have been appointed into the service with effect from April 2, 2009.
Providing a background to events leading to the suspension of the earlier appointments, the minister said in December 2007, the ministry sought appropriate financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to recruit 30 personnel into the ministry.
He said following the receipt of the financial clearance, the ministry engaged the services of the West African Examinations Council and the Legon Centre for International Affairs to conduct an entrance examination for over 400 persons whose applications had been received by the Human Resource and Administrative Bureau of the ministry.
He said a selection board was subsequently constituted to interview applicants who had been shortlisted on the basis of their performance in the examination, as well as considerations of skills and requirements of the ministry.
The minister stated that on March 20, 2008, the interview panel submitted its report on the interview to the minister and recommended that the top-ranked 30 interviewees for appointment.
“After consideration of the report, the then Minister for Foreign Affairs’ Record of Decision to the OHCS listed 11 out of the 30 candidates recommended by the Selection Board for appointment, as well as 22 other candidates who had taken part in the interview, but could not make it into the first 30,” the minister stated.
He added that seven others who did not participate in the interview at all were also included, bringing the total number of persons recruited out of the exercise to 40.
Although he conceded that due approval had been obtained from the Office of the Civil Service by the ministry for the appointment of the extra 10 persons, the extra number had not been catered for by the Ministry of Finance.
The minister said on receipt of the Record of Decision, which was communicated to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service on November 21, 2008, and upon approval from the Head of the Civil Service on November 26, 2008, the 40 candidates were issued with the necessary appointment letters and were asked to assume duty by January 5, 2009 to undergo an induction and training programme, which was to start that day.
He indicated that, however, in the course of the programme the International Relations Subcommittee of the Transition Team called the ministry’s attention to some reported irregularities that had come to its notice regarding the recruitment exercise.
“The committee, therefore, advised the ministry to suspend the appointments of the 40 officers pending the outcome of investigations into the alleged improprieties,” the minister added.
He said an investigation by the committee established those irregularities, which he said were in breach of the 1992 Constitution and the laid down regulations governing appointments in the Ghana Civil Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in particular.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah & Daniel Nkrumah
THE Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, yesterday told Parliament that the appointments of 40 persons into the Foreign Service was suspended because they were not based on the principles of meritocracy and justice.
He explained that prior to those appointments, a shortlist of 157 persons had been interviewed and although the interview panel recommended the top-ranked 30 interviewees for appointment, only 11 out of the top 30 were issued appointment letters.
He added that 22 others who had taken part in the interview but could not make it into the first 30 and seven others who did not participate in the interview at all were rather issued with appointment letters.
He was responding to a question posed by the MP for Weija, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchway, on what had become of the appointments of “30 entry level foreign service officers whose appointments were revoked by the Transition Team in January 2009”.
Subsequently, he said after a review of the appointments, the top 30 candidates have been appointed into the service with effect from April 2, 2009.
Providing a background to events leading to the suspension of the earlier appointments, the minister said in December 2007, the ministry sought appropriate financial clearance from the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to recruit 30 personnel into the ministry.
He said following the receipt of the financial clearance, the ministry engaged the services of the West African Examinations Council and the Legon Centre for International Affairs to conduct an entrance examination for over 400 persons whose applications had been received by the Human Resource and Administrative Bureau of the ministry.
He said a selection board was subsequently constituted to interview applicants who had been shortlisted on the basis of their performance in the examination, as well as considerations of skills and requirements of the ministry.
The minister stated that on March 20, 2008, the interview panel submitted its report on the interview to the minister and recommended that the top-ranked 30 interviewees for appointment.
“After consideration of the report, the then Minister for Foreign Affairs’ Record of Decision to the OHCS listed 11 out of the 30 candidates recommended by the Selection Board for appointment, as well as 22 other candidates who had taken part in the interview, but could not make it into the first 30,” the minister stated.
He added that seven others who did not participate in the interview at all were also included, bringing the total number of persons recruited out of the exercise to 40.
Although he conceded that due approval had been obtained from the Office of the Civil Service by the ministry for the appointment of the extra 10 persons, the extra number had not been catered for by the Ministry of Finance.
The minister said on receipt of the Record of Decision, which was communicated to the Office of the Head of the Civil Service on November 21, 2008, and upon approval from the Head of the Civil Service on November 26, 2008, the 40 candidates were issued with the necessary appointment letters and were asked to assume duty by January 5, 2009 to undergo an induction and training programme, which was to start that day.
He indicated that, however, in the course of the programme the International Relations Subcommittee of the Transition Team called the ministry’s attention to some reported irregularities that had come to its notice regarding the recruitment exercise.
“The committee, therefore, advised the ministry to suspend the appointments of the 40 officers pending the outcome of investigations into the alleged improprieties,” the minister added.
He said an investigation by the committee established those irregularities, which he said were in breach of the 1992 Constitution and the laid down regulations governing appointments in the Ghana Civil Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in particular.
MPs commend Black Stars
Page 17, Thurs June 25, 22009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
MEMBERS of Parliament (MPs) yesterday commended players of the national senior soccer team, the Black Stars, for their sterling performance in the ongoing World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualification matches.
They noted that by winning two away matches against Mali and The Sudan, the team had shown Ghanaians how success could be achieved, in the face of difficulties, with unity, dedication and commitment.
They were contributing to a statement made on the floor of Parliament by the MP for Suaman, Mr M.E.K. Ackah, who is also the Chairman of the Youth, Sports and Culture Committee of Parliament.
In his statement, Mr Ackah noted that experts and analysts of football had been very sceptical about the chances of the Black Stars in the two away matches due to ill-preparation, inadequate motivation, among other reasons.
“The Black Stars have shown that they are the shining stars of Africa. Indeed, it is when you least expect them to shine that their full blossom comes to light,” he said.
The MP stated that it needed a team that had commitment, courage, resilience, dedication and the will to die a little to keep the nation’s banner high to do that, adding, “These are the virtues our young, patriotic and gallant men exhibited.”
Mr Ackah said the journey to South Africa was only halfway through and cautioned the team and its handlers to eschew complacency in the remaining matches.
“The ultimate is not just getting to South Africa to participate but to dream big to make Ghana the first African country to annex the World Cup trophy,” he added.
He entreated the government to ensure that whatever it took to make the Black Stars achieve the best in the qualifying series was provided so that the commitment and dedication was sustained.
Contributing to the statement, the MP for Atwima Mponua, Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, who is also the Ranking Member of Youth, Sports and Culture, said the Black Stars’ journey to South Africa had been fantastic so far.
He said due to the quality of play by the team during the 2006 World Cup, the whole world was itching to see another quality performance which brought big soccer nations such as the Czech Republic and the United States of America to their knees.
He stated that the current performance of the team could be attributed to the long-term plan by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) which had groomed the players from the Under 17 stage to the senior level.
The Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, and the MP for Ahafo-Ano South, Mr Stephen Kwaku Balado-Manu, called on Ghanaians to be patient with the coach even in the face of difficulties.
Other MPs who contributed to the statement were Mr Ahmed Ibrahim (Tain) and Ms Beatrice Bernice Boateng (New Juaben South).
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
MEMBERS of Parliament (MPs) yesterday commended players of the national senior soccer team, the Black Stars, for their sterling performance in the ongoing World Cup and African Cup of Nations qualification matches.
They noted that by winning two away matches against Mali and The Sudan, the team had shown Ghanaians how success could be achieved, in the face of difficulties, with unity, dedication and commitment.
They were contributing to a statement made on the floor of Parliament by the MP for Suaman, Mr M.E.K. Ackah, who is also the Chairman of the Youth, Sports and Culture Committee of Parliament.
In his statement, Mr Ackah noted that experts and analysts of football had been very sceptical about the chances of the Black Stars in the two away matches due to ill-preparation, inadequate motivation, among other reasons.
“The Black Stars have shown that they are the shining stars of Africa. Indeed, it is when you least expect them to shine that their full blossom comes to light,” he said.
The MP stated that it needed a team that had commitment, courage, resilience, dedication and the will to die a little to keep the nation’s banner high to do that, adding, “These are the virtues our young, patriotic and gallant men exhibited.”
Mr Ackah said the journey to South Africa was only halfway through and cautioned the team and its handlers to eschew complacency in the remaining matches.
“The ultimate is not just getting to South Africa to participate but to dream big to make Ghana the first African country to annex the World Cup trophy,” he added.
He entreated the government to ensure that whatever it took to make the Black Stars achieve the best in the qualifying series was provided so that the commitment and dedication was sustained.
Contributing to the statement, the MP for Atwima Mponua, Mr Isaac Kwame Asiamah, who is also the Ranking Member of Youth, Sports and Culture, said the Black Stars’ journey to South Africa had been fantastic so far.
He said due to the quality of play by the team during the 2006 World Cup, the whole world was itching to see another quality performance which brought big soccer nations such as the Czech Republic and the United States of America to their knees.
He stated that the current performance of the team could be attributed to the long-term plan by the Ghana Football Association (GFA) which had groomed the players from the Under 17 stage to the senior level.
The Minority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, and the MP for Ahafo-Ano South, Mr Stephen Kwaku Balado-Manu, called on Ghanaians to be patient with the coach even in the face of difficulties.
Other MPs who contributed to the statement were Mr Ahmed Ibrahim (Tain) and Ms Beatrice Bernice Boateng (New Juaben South).
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.
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.
Ghana to start commercial oil production in 2010
Page 16, June 24, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
GHANA will start its first commercial production of oil in the fourth quarter of 2010, the Minister of Energy, Dr Oteng Adjei has told Parliament.
He said, “we are on track to achieve the first production in the fourth quarter of 2010. The contractors are still committed to the priduction schedule”.
Dr Adjei was responding to a question filed by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Effia-Kwesimintim, Mr Joe Badoe-Ansah.
The MP wanted to know what had prevented the completion of negotiations on the Plan of Development (POD) for the Jubilee Fields and whether the delay would not negatively impact on the planned production of the fields by the end of 2010.
Dr Adjei said following the discovery of oil in commercial quantities at the Jubilee Fields, Tullow and Partners submitted a POD to the government for review in accordance with the petroleum agreement.
According to him, the POD was reviewed by the government’s team, which raised a number of issues.
He explained that most of the issues had been resolved while the iterative negotiation process was almost completed.
Dr Adjei told the House that although he had read in the media about the intention of Kosmos Energy to sell its share in the oil find, nothing official had come on his table.
Answering another question posed by the MP for Evalue-Gwira, Mrs Catherine Ablema Afeku, Dr Adjei stated that the ministry had completed the electrification project at Awukyire-Averebo under the ongoing $90 million project package being executed by the China International Water and Electric Corporation.
He said Kakusuazo, also in the Evalue-Gwira Constituency, had been earmarked to benefit under the Self-Help Electrification V Programme(SHEP)
Other communities in the constituency, Kutukrom, Sikaneasem, Gyampele, Tebakrom, Kukuaville, Akango, Gwira Eshiem, Satem, Gwira Anyinase, Akonu and Dominase, had also been earmarked to benefit from the next phase of SHEP-IV.
The minister added that the Tumantu, Draw and Enyan communities in the constituency did not form part of the electrification projects currently being undertaken by the ministry,and gave the assurance that they would be considered in the subsequent phases of the National Electrification Programme when funds were made available.
He also responded to questions filed by Mr Robert Sarfo-Mensah (Asunafo North) and Mr Augustine Collins Ntim (Offinso North) and gave the assurance that some communities in their constituencies would be hooked unto the national grid when funds were made available.
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
GHANA will start its first commercial production of oil in the fourth quarter of 2010, the Minister of Energy, Dr Oteng Adjei has told Parliament.
He said, “we are on track to achieve the first production in the fourth quarter of 2010. The contractors are still committed to the priduction schedule”.
Dr Adjei was responding to a question filed by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Effia-Kwesimintim, Mr Joe Badoe-Ansah.
The MP wanted to know what had prevented the completion of negotiations on the Plan of Development (POD) for the Jubilee Fields and whether the delay would not negatively impact on the planned production of the fields by the end of 2010.
Dr Adjei said following the discovery of oil in commercial quantities at the Jubilee Fields, Tullow and Partners submitted a POD to the government for review in accordance with the petroleum agreement.
According to him, the POD was reviewed by the government’s team, which raised a number of issues.
He explained that most of the issues had been resolved while the iterative negotiation process was almost completed.
Dr Adjei told the House that although he had read in the media about the intention of Kosmos Energy to sell its share in the oil find, nothing official had come on his table.
Answering another question posed by the MP for Evalue-Gwira, Mrs Catherine Ablema Afeku, Dr Adjei stated that the ministry had completed the electrification project at Awukyire-Averebo under the ongoing $90 million project package being executed by the China International Water and Electric Corporation.
He said Kakusuazo, also in the Evalue-Gwira Constituency, had been earmarked to benefit under the Self-Help Electrification V Programme(SHEP)
Other communities in the constituency, Kutukrom, Sikaneasem, Gyampele, Tebakrom, Kukuaville, Akango, Gwira Eshiem, Satem, Gwira Anyinase, Akonu and Dominase, had also been earmarked to benefit from the next phase of SHEP-IV.
The minister added that the Tumantu, Draw and Enyan communities in the constituency did not form part of the electrification projects currently being undertaken by the ministry,and gave the assurance that they would be considered in the subsequent phases of the National Electrification Programme when funds were made available.
He also responded to questions filed by Mr Robert Sarfo-Mensah (Asunafo North) and Mr Augustine Collins Ntim (Offinso North) and gave the assurance that some communities in their constituencies would be hooked unto the national grid when funds were made available.
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