THE Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashitey, has urged chiefs and citizens of Accra to accept the District and Municipal Chief Executives who have been nominated by the President.
He said he believed President John Evans Atta Mills had nominated them in good faith.
He said he was confident the DCEs would rise to the task and work diligently to improve on sanitation in the capital.
The Regional Minister was speaking during a courtesy call on him by the Tema Manste, Nii Adjei Kraku II and the Kpone Manste, Nii Tetteh Otu, and their kinsmen.
He said the purpose of the decentralisation process where District and Municipal Chief Executives were appointed was to involve all Ghanaians in the decision-making process.
Mr Ashitey therefore encouraged all aggrieved persons who were not happy about the President’s choice of DCEs for their districts to exercise patience.
He, however, bemoaned the numerous litigation among some chiefs and factions in Accra, pointing out that it made it difficult for the government to address their concerns in order to bring development to the people.
To that effect he admonished all feuding chiefs and factions in the Ga Traditional area to settle all scores and forge ahead in unity as one people.
He also gave the assurance that the government would assist them with subsidies on premix fuel and soft loans for fishermen to improve their trade and fishing activities.
On the issue of sanitation, a major concern to the two chiefs, Mr Ashitey observed that waste management was serious problem that needed to be addressed with a more scientific approach.
“We are not being scientific about the disposal methods”, he stated and charged the Metropolitan Assemblies, both in Tema and Accra to adopt a more scientific and modern approach to address the sanitation challenges in the city.
The Kpone Manste, Nii Tetteh Otu, complained about old cemeteries in the capital being turned into refuse dump by residents, and suggested to the regional minister to assist them to recycle their waste to save their communities from malaria, diarrhoea and other avoidable diseases.
The delegation, after discussions with the minister, poured libation to congratulate the minister for his selection as the Member of Parliament for the Korle Klottey Constituency and as the Greater Accra Regional Minister.
Caption : The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashitey(second from left) looks on whilst the Chief Priest of Sakumo pours libation in honour of his appointment as the Regional Minister.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Motorists educated on safe driving
A Report by the National Road Safety Commission (NRSC) indicates that 18 people died in 209 accidents that occurred on the Accra-Tema Motorway alone from January to March, 2009.
It further showed that 55 people sustained various degrees of injuries and trauma.
A former Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) Commander, ACP Victor Tandoh (Retd), made this known in an address on behalf of the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu, at the launch of a Pre-Easter Road Safety Campaign on the Accra-Tema Motorway yesterday.
The campaign was organised by a non-governmental organisation called ‘No More A Soul Foundation’ in collaboration with the NRSC and the Ministry of Roads and Highways.
It was on theme: “You Don’t Deserve to Die on the Road: Enough is Enough”.
ACP Tandoh cautioned drivers to adhere strictly to all road safety regulations as the Easter approached.
“The Easter should be accident-free,” he stated and urged passengers not to compromise with drivers who refused to observe road signs and regulations.
He added that it was the right of passengers to be transported safely to their destination, adding that it was unacceptable for a record number of 209 accidents to occur on a first class road like the Accra-Tema Motorway.
The president of the foundation, Nana Prempeh Adu-Hene, said their objective, which extends beyond the Easter celebrations, was to record a zero-accident during the celebration, a time when most accidents had occurred in the past.
To achieve this, he said, the campaign would be extended to the lorry stations to create awareness of the use of seat belts and other road safety regulations,” he stated.
He said on the eve of Easter, they would organise a give-away campaign for drivers whose passengers would testify on their behalf as having behaved well and observed all the road signs and regulations.
It further showed that 55 people sustained various degrees of injuries and trauma.
A former Motor Traffic and Transport Unit (MTTU) Commander, ACP Victor Tandoh (Retd), made this known in an address on behalf of the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu, at the launch of a Pre-Easter Road Safety Campaign on the Accra-Tema Motorway yesterday.
The campaign was organised by a non-governmental organisation called ‘No More A Soul Foundation’ in collaboration with the NRSC and the Ministry of Roads and Highways.
It was on theme: “You Don’t Deserve to Die on the Road: Enough is Enough”.
ACP Tandoh cautioned drivers to adhere strictly to all road safety regulations as the Easter approached.
“The Easter should be accident-free,” he stated and urged passengers not to compromise with drivers who refused to observe road signs and regulations.
He added that it was the right of passengers to be transported safely to their destination, adding that it was unacceptable for a record number of 209 accidents to occur on a first class road like the Accra-Tema Motorway.
The president of the foundation, Nana Prempeh Adu-Hene, said their objective, which extends beyond the Easter celebrations, was to record a zero-accident during the celebration, a time when most accidents had occurred in the past.
To achieve this, he said, the campaign would be extended to the lorry stations to create awareness of the use of seat belts and other road safety regulations,” he stated.
He said on the eve of Easter, they would organise a give-away campaign for drivers whose passengers would testify on their behalf as having behaved well and observed all the road signs and regulations.
Contractors charged to expedite action on the projects
THE Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu, has charged contractors working on major road projects in Accra to expedite action on the projects.
He said: “We want the best value for our money” and urged the contractors to deliver on their promises to complete the projects within the extended period they had requested for after their initial contract period had expired.
He made the statement when he led a delegation from the ministry to inspect some project sites under the Road Sector Development Programme (RSDP) in Accra.
The sites visited by the minister included the Tetteh-Quarshie Mallam Extension project, the Asafoaste Nettey and Korle Lagoon Roads, which entail the construction of some selected roads in the Central Business District of Accra, and the Alajo Bypass, Transport Terminal Extension and Service Roads dubbed the ‘Achimota Terminal project’.
Mr Gidisu gave the assurance that his ministry would liaise with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to ensure that outstanding debts due the contractors were paid to ensure the smooth execution of the projects.
Whilst commending the contractors for work done so far at the different project sites, he acknowledged the fact that most of the projects had halted as a result of the delay in the release of funds to pay the contractors.
Mr Gidisu reminded the contractors that although they were expected to complete the various projects on schedule, they should place more emphasis on quality of the work.
The Project Manager for the Achimota Terminal Project, Mr Kwabena Bempong, gave the assurance that the project, which was supposed to be completed by January this year, was 63 per cent and would be ready by July 2009.
He stated that the terminal had work to be completed on a holding area for vehicles and would serve as a major public transport facility for the Kwame Nkrumah Circle-Achimota road, adding that it would be managed by a private administrator and supervised by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly after completion.
The Project Manager for the Asafoaste Nettey and Korle Lagoon roads, Mr Bu Zhueinq also gave the assurance that the first phase of the projects, which involves the construction of the stretch of bridge on the Korle Lagoon, would be completed by the end of October 2009 whilst the second phase, which has already started, would be completed by September 2009.
He promised that the temporary road linking the High Street through James Town to the Asafoaste Nettey Road would also be opened to traffic by May.
Meanwhile, most members of the Used Car Dealers Association of Ghana whose activities delayed the start of the Tetteh-Quarshie Mallam Extension project have relocated to a parcel of land allocated to them at Amasaman, a suburb of Accra.
The Chairman of the association, Nana Yeboah, gave the assurance that the rest of them would relocate soon.
The Project Manager for the Tetteh-Quarshie Mallam Extension work, Mr Koranteng Yorke, promised that the work would be completed on scheduled considering the fact that the used car dealers were co-operating with them.
He said: “We want the best value for our money” and urged the contractors to deliver on their promises to complete the projects within the extended period they had requested for after their initial contract period had expired.
He made the statement when he led a delegation from the ministry to inspect some project sites under the Road Sector Development Programme (RSDP) in Accra.
The sites visited by the minister included the Tetteh-Quarshie Mallam Extension project, the Asafoaste Nettey and Korle Lagoon Roads, which entail the construction of some selected roads in the Central Business District of Accra, and the Alajo Bypass, Transport Terminal Extension and Service Roads dubbed the ‘Achimota Terminal project’.
Mr Gidisu gave the assurance that his ministry would liaise with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning to ensure that outstanding debts due the contractors were paid to ensure the smooth execution of the projects.
Whilst commending the contractors for work done so far at the different project sites, he acknowledged the fact that most of the projects had halted as a result of the delay in the release of funds to pay the contractors.
Mr Gidisu reminded the contractors that although they were expected to complete the various projects on schedule, they should place more emphasis on quality of the work.
The Project Manager for the Achimota Terminal Project, Mr Kwabena Bempong, gave the assurance that the project, which was supposed to be completed by January this year, was 63 per cent and would be ready by July 2009.
He stated that the terminal had work to be completed on a holding area for vehicles and would serve as a major public transport facility for the Kwame Nkrumah Circle-Achimota road, adding that it would be managed by a private administrator and supervised by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly after completion.
The Project Manager for the Asafoaste Nettey and Korle Lagoon roads, Mr Bu Zhueinq also gave the assurance that the first phase of the projects, which involves the construction of the stretch of bridge on the Korle Lagoon, would be completed by the end of October 2009 whilst the second phase, which has already started, would be completed by September 2009.
He promised that the temporary road linking the High Street through James Town to the Asafoaste Nettey Road would also be opened to traffic by May.
Meanwhile, most members of the Used Car Dealers Association of Ghana whose activities delayed the start of the Tetteh-Quarshie Mallam Extension project have relocated to a parcel of land allocated to them at Amasaman, a suburb of Accra.
The Chairman of the association, Nana Yeboah, gave the assurance that the rest of them would relocate soon.
The Project Manager for the Tetteh-Quarshie Mallam Extension work, Mr Koranteng Yorke, promised that the work would be completed on scheduled considering the fact that the used car dealers were co-operating with them.
Rehabilitation of Nkrumah Memorial Park to cost GH¢563
AN assessment of the cost of rehabilitation and maintenance needed at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park by the Public Works Department (PWD) indicates that about GH¢563,000 will be needed to restore the facility.
The cost, according to the Chief Director of the Ministry of Chieftancy & Culture, Mrs Emma Lilian Bruce-Lyle who directed the PWD to undertake the assessment, may shoot up before work begins on the facility as a result of the appreciating cost of materials needed for the restoration.
She disclosed that since the present government made no allocation of funds under the ‘Investment Vote’ for the Nkrumah Memorial Park in its budget for the ministry, the cost would be referred to the Office of the President for consideration.
The Minister for Chieftancy and Culture, Mr Alex Asum-Ahensah, had directed the PWD to ascertain the cost of maintenance and repair works at the memorial park following reports that major works needed to be done on the facility which houses the body and personal property of the country’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
Some of the items that stand the risk of being destroyed in the event of a downpour are the desk used by the former President at the Flag Staff House, a dressing mirror he used at Lincoln University, collections of his photographs with other prominent world leaders, copies of his books, a stool and walking sticks.
Mrs Bruce-Lyle said areas identified by the PWD for repair and maintenance include the re-wiring of the museum which had not undergone any maintenance works since its establishment.
Additionally, she indicated that the report by the PWD had recommended the replacement of the fountain at the park with a stainless steel system to avoid rust and the provision of a bore-hole to feed the fountain.
She pointed out that the PWD had also recommended the provision of a glass house where two vehicles, a Rolls Royce and a Pontiac used by Dr Nkrumah during the independence celebration in 1957 would be housed.
Apart from these and those identified by the authorities of the park, she said the assessment team had recommended a general rehabilitation of the grounds and all edifices at the park to ensure their sustainability.
In addition, the team had recommended the erection of the busts of Sekou Toure, the first President of Guinea; Dr Kwame Nkrumah and Madibo Keita, the first President of Mali, in recognition of their commitment to the Pan-African ideology and the cordial relationship among the three countries.
The cost, according to the Chief Director of the Ministry of Chieftancy & Culture, Mrs Emma Lilian Bruce-Lyle who directed the PWD to undertake the assessment, may shoot up before work begins on the facility as a result of the appreciating cost of materials needed for the restoration.
She disclosed that since the present government made no allocation of funds under the ‘Investment Vote’ for the Nkrumah Memorial Park in its budget for the ministry, the cost would be referred to the Office of the President for consideration.
The Minister for Chieftancy and Culture, Mr Alex Asum-Ahensah, had directed the PWD to ascertain the cost of maintenance and repair works at the memorial park following reports that major works needed to be done on the facility which houses the body and personal property of the country’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
Some of the items that stand the risk of being destroyed in the event of a downpour are the desk used by the former President at the Flag Staff House, a dressing mirror he used at Lincoln University, collections of his photographs with other prominent world leaders, copies of his books, a stool and walking sticks.
Mrs Bruce-Lyle said areas identified by the PWD for repair and maintenance include the re-wiring of the museum which had not undergone any maintenance works since its establishment.
Additionally, she indicated that the report by the PWD had recommended the replacement of the fountain at the park with a stainless steel system to avoid rust and the provision of a bore-hole to feed the fountain.
She pointed out that the PWD had also recommended the provision of a glass house where two vehicles, a Rolls Royce and a Pontiac used by Dr Nkrumah during the independence celebration in 1957 would be housed.
Apart from these and those identified by the authorities of the park, she said the assessment team had recommended a general rehabilitation of the grounds and all edifices at the park to ensure their sustainability.
In addition, the team had recommended the erection of the busts of Sekou Toure, the first President of Guinea; Dr Kwame Nkrumah and Madibo Keita, the first President of Mali, in recognition of their commitment to the Pan-African ideology and the cordial relationship among the three countries.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Eleven Courts sits at Nsawam Prisons
ELEVEN Courts sat at the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons yesterday to hear over 300 remand cases, expired warrants and other related cases.
The courts were made up of eight magistrate’s court, two circuit courts and one High Court.
The magistrate’s courts were the Osu, La, Madina, Community Centre, City Engineers, James Town, Amasaman and Adjabeng, whilst the two circuit courts were from the Cocoa Affairs Court.
Mr Justice Clemence Honyenuga, a Justice of the Appeal Court who sat as an additonal High Court Judge was appointed by the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina T. Wood, to supervise the sitting of the courts on the prison’s premises.
The High Court was mandated to sit in the prisons because some of the cases were murder and rape, which are beyond the jurisdiction of the magistrate’s and circuit courts, while some had to be referred to the Attorney-Generals Department for advice.
The sitting followed a directive by the Chief Justice to the various courts to deal with the cases, which had been the subject of media reports and discussions.
It also came in the wake of the government’s commitment not to subscribe to the selective application of justice in the governance of the country.
Briefing newsmen before the sitting of the courts, a circuit court judge, Justice Mahama Iddrisu, indicated that the purpose of the sitting was to renew the warrant of arrests of prisoners to legalise their stay in custody.
The total number of inmates currently at the Nsawam Prisons is 2,918, which includes 1,711 on remand, 77 condemned, 77 on life sentence and the others on various charges.
A visit round the courts by the Daily Graphic revealed that most of the cases had not been continued because of the inconclusive nature of investigations by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, resulting in some of the prisoners being on remand for up to 15 years.
In one of the hearings at the Amasaman court, further probing by the judge revealed that a murder case involving Osumanu Awuni Kwadwo had been on remand since April 2007 and had been abandoned by the investigator.
Osumanu told the court that he was supposed to appear in court two weeks after the first hearing of his case but his investigator had categorically told him that he was not going to come back and so he should pray to God for a miracle.
The court broke into laught
Godwin Bedi, a 23-year-old inmate, said he was arrested on suspicion of robbery when he was 15 years old and had been on remand for eight years since 2000.
According to him, the investigator who was handling his case was transferred after he appeared only once at the Adjabeng Court and had been on remand since then because no investigator had been assigned to handle his case.
The courts were made up of eight magistrate’s court, two circuit courts and one High Court.
The magistrate’s courts were the Osu, La, Madina, Community Centre, City Engineers, James Town, Amasaman and Adjabeng, whilst the two circuit courts were from the Cocoa Affairs Court.
Mr Justice Clemence Honyenuga, a Justice of the Appeal Court who sat as an additonal High Court Judge was appointed by the Chief Justice, Mrs Justice Georgina T. Wood, to supervise the sitting of the courts on the prison’s premises.
The High Court was mandated to sit in the prisons because some of the cases were murder and rape, which are beyond the jurisdiction of the magistrate’s and circuit courts, while some had to be referred to the Attorney-Generals Department for advice.
The sitting followed a directive by the Chief Justice to the various courts to deal with the cases, which had been the subject of media reports and discussions.
It also came in the wake of the government’s commitment not to subscribe to the selective application of justice in the governance of the country.
Briefing newsmen before the sitting of the courts, a circuit court judge, Justice Mahama Iddrisu, indicated that the purpose of the sitting was to renew the warrant of arrests of prisoners to legalise their stay in custody.
The total number of inmates currently at the Nsawam Prisons is 2,918, which includes 1,711 on remand, 77 condemned, 77 on life sentence and the others on various charges.
A visit round the courts by the Daily Graphic revealed that most of the cases had not been continued because of the inconclusive nature of investigations by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service, resulting in some of the prisoners being on remand for up to 15 years.
In one of the hearings at the Amasaman court, further probing by the judge revealed that a murder case involving Osumanu Awuni Kwadwo had been on remand since April 2007 and had been abandoned by the investigator.
Osumanu told the court that he was supposed to appear in court two weeks after the first hearing of his case but his investigator had categorically told him that he was not going to come back and so he should pray to God for a miracle.
The court broke into laught
Godwin Bedi, a 23-year-old inmate, said he was arrested on suspicion of robbery when he was 15 years old and had been on remand for eight years since 2000.
According to him, the investigator who was handling his case was transferred after he appeared only once at the Adjabeng Court and had been on remand since then because no investigator had been assigned to handle his case.
Agric is key to economic self-reliant- Ahwoi
THE Minister for Food and Agriculture, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, has given the assurance that the government’s quest to build a self-reliant economy using agriculture as key to its economic policy is achievable.
He said his ministry, apart from the Aveyime Rice Project and other such projects under the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA), had initiated a master plan to grow rice all over the country in areas where the crop could be cultivated, taking into consideration quality as its key measure.
Responding to questions on a field excursion to the Aveyime Rice Project which is a joint venture among the government of Ghana, with 30 per cent share, Prairie Texas Limited, with 40 per cent share, and the Development Finance and Holding Company, a subsidiary of the Ghana Commercial Bank, with 30 per cent share, Mr Ahwoi said the Aveyime Rice Project would spearhead the country’s quest to feed itself, thereby ensuring food security for all Ghanaians, and pointed out that the government was very committed to the project.
Together with a delegation from his ministry, the media and some officials of Prairie Volta Limited, the minister visited all the various sites, including the 3,177-acre field under the project which shares borders with the Volta River, a pumping station, the milling facility with 60,000-tonne capacity and eight silos with capacity to store about 15,000 tonnes of paddy rice.
Mr Ahwoi, however, disclosed that the government, in its efforts at making the country self-reliant, was considering the imposition of taxes on imported rice to change the marketing attitude of rice importers and force them to produce local rice.
“The government is looking at using the tariff mechanism to discourage the heavy dependent on rice imports,” he stated, and stressed that the rationale behind that measure was to build on the country’s local rice base using the Aveyime Rice Project and other small-scale irrigation projects under GIDA.
The Chief Operating Officer, Mr John Van-Dyke Mensah, announced that the first harvest from an 80-acre field, which was part of the project’s 3,177 acres, would begin in early June and promised that the company would make sure that its rice was of quality and far cheaper than imported rice to discourage the country’s over-dependence on imported rice.
The prices, he stated, would come down, taking into consideration the minimum wage, to ensure that all Ghanaians were able to afford them.
Presently, he said, the company was awaiting the arrival of an air plane which would spray the crops with chemicals before harvest begins in June and pointed out that if things went well the company would be growing and harvesting all-year round.
Mr Mensah attributed the poor quality of locally produced rice to the cultural practices among farmers, hinting that time and the production process were critical to the final output.
The Managing Director of Prairie Volta Limited, Mr Everett Anderson, explained that the company had planted 16 rice varieties, 10 foreign and six local, on small-scale research plots to identify the suitable varieties and farming procedures.
The results on all the varieties, which matured within 90-100 days after cultivation, he attested, proved successful and that encouraged the company to replicate it on all the acres presently allocated for the project.
Mr Anderson said other equipment, including those designed to work in clayey fields in the rainy season, was expected in the country soon so that production could be undertaken all-year round in order for the company to meet its set targets.
The Deputy Chief Executive of GIDA, Mr Daniel Nyarko Ohene, announced that a feasibility study on the 200,000-hectare Accra Plains would be due by June 2009.
He said out of the 200,000 hectares, 150,000 would be irrigated and the government would apportion it to farmers for the cultivation of various crops, according to its policy.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Call on media to foster unity
A Deputy Minister for Education, Dr Joseph Annan, has urged journalists to use the power of the media to foster unity among Ghanaians and shy away from tendencies that may polarise the country.
“The media must be used to assist our development efforts,” he said, and challenged all stakeholders to adopt a transformational shift to the pressing needs and aspirations of the country.
The Dr Annan was speaking at the launch of the 50th anniversary of the Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ) in Accra yesterday, on the theme: “50 years of Ghana Institute of Journalism: Defining Africa’s Communication Agenda”.
He said the theme for the celebration was in accordance with the vision of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first president, whose intention to establish the institution was to ensure that Ghana equally rubbed shoulders with the rest of the world.
“This compelled Nkrumah to declare in 1965 that the media should not be used just for entertainment but the vanguard for societal transformation,” he emphasised, and described GIJ as on of the foremost journalism institutions in Africa.
“GIJ since its inception has played a vital role in the country’s international image which is hugely attributed to the media,” he said, and expressed the government’s unflinching commitment to build a harmonious relationship with the media.
Dr Annan observed that a credible media certainly reflected the quality of information processed for public consumption and asked journalists to understand the need for their role in the country’s development agenda in the wider picture.
He, therefore, urged journalists to specialise in specific fields of endeavour to improve the quality and standard of the profession, promising that the government was committed to ensuring that the standard and quality of tertiary education improved tremendously.
The Managing Director of Graphic Communications Group Limited (GCGL), Mr Ibrahim Awal, a past student of the institute, observed that the unique role that the institute had played in the country’s development was immeasurable.
“We need journalists to lead in the development agenda of the country as we move higher as a nation,” he stated, and cautioned journalists that in writing articles, the interest of the nation must be paramount.
He made a pledge that the Graphic Communications Group would support the institute with GH¢10,000 to address some of its challenges.
The acting Rector of GIJ, Mr Kweku Rockson, said the goal of the institute was to provide students with quality tuition with emphasis on research as the basis of the country’s development.
He said although the institute was still constrained in terms of space, with assistance from the GETFund, it hoped to increase the number of student intake yearly.
The institute, he said, had reformed its curriculum to reflect the changes in the communication industry and was committed to playing its role in the country’s young democracy.
An anniversary cloth was launched and a logo unveiled to celebrate the occasion, which ends in October, 2009.
Some of the activities outlined for the celebration are a homecoming health walk, lectures, open day exhibition, fun games, community outreach, a dinner and a thanksgiving service to climax the celebration.
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