Military Collaboration (Security agencies)
Story: Alice Aryeetey
GHANA and China have signed an agreement for a military collaboration for the supply of military facilities and other equipment to the former to help strengthen its knowledge-based capacity in peace-keeping initiatives.
Under the partnership, there would be military training exchange programmes between the two countries for the benefit of drawing lessons from their respective sectors for purposes of embarking on peace-keeping programmes.
Ghana’s Minister of Defence, Lt Gen J.H. Smith, signed on behalf of the Government of Ghana while the General State Counsellor and Minister of National Defence of the People’s Republic of China, Gen Liang Guanglie, initialled for his country.
Gen Guanglie arrived in the country on Tuesday with a 21-member delegation for a three-day official visit. He laid wreaths at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra yesterday in honour of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President.
According to him, there is the need to intensify the existing friendship between the two countries in the areas of promoting peace and unity for which reason he recommended a collaboration between the defence ministries of the two countries.
Lt. Gen. Smith for his part was optimistic that the visit of his Chinese counterpart which was the first to the country would yield the needed results for their mutual benefit and expressed gratitude to the delegation for the visit.
There was an exchange of gifts by the two ministers after a closed-door bilateral talks on issues of national security. A stool, a piece of Kente, as well as some cocoa products, were presented to Gen Guanglie as a gift. Gen Guanglie in return presented a Chinese artwork to Lt. Gen Smith.
The Chinese delegation later toured the ministry’s museum to explore the tools and some attires used by some past military men, and the pictures of great men and women who fought and stood in for peace to prevail in the country.
Wednesday 30 November 2011
Agreement (Energy)
Story: Alice Aryeetey
THE Ministry of Energy has signed an agreement with three local manufacturing companies for the supply of GH¢80,000,000 worth of electrical cables and conductors for the implementation of the Self-Help Electrification Programme (SHEP).
The three local companies are Tropical Cables and Conductor Limited, Reroy Cables Limited and Nexans Kabelmetal (Gh) Limited.
Those who signed the agreement were Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, the sector minister, who signed on behalf of the ministry; Mr J.B. Quartey Papafio, for Reroy cables; Mr Martin Borovsky and Mr Aaron Sagoe, for Nexans Kabelmetal (Gh) Limited; and Mr Tony Oteng Gyasi, for Tropical Cables.
The extension of electricity infrastructure is the major objective of the government’s poverty reduction and growth agenda to support the operation of productive ventures, social projects and activities, especially in the rural areas.
It is anticipated that the extension of electricity would be a source of accelerated growth, poverty reduction and general prosperity to the people of Ghana.
According to Dr Oteng-Adjei, the active involvement of Ghanaians in the extension of electricity to rural areas through local content and participation would help create jobs.
That, he said, would also be a great source of income for jobless young graduates from the polytechnics and universities.
The National Electrification Scheme (NES), which is the vehicle for attaining the government’s major objective, commenced in 1990, with the aim of extending the reach of reliable electricity supply to all parts of the country over a 30-year period.
The SHEP was put on board to complement the NES to ensure that communities are connected to the national grid provided the communities fall within 20 km radius of an existing medium voltage (MV) network, among other things.
Dr Oteng-Adjei stated that 789 communities in the regions had ongoing projects to be completed under the programme.
“The project is being funded by a credit facility from the Trust Bank, and the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO), another local entity expected to supply molten aluminium that will be used for the manufacture of these cables,” he said.
The three companies were urged to seize the opportunity to prove to all that given the chance Ghanaian companies could deliver timeously and at competitive prices.
The minister said if it was discovered that the conductors and cables for the project were not made by the companies in Ghana, legal proceedings would be taken against them and their contract terminated.
The representatives of the three companies expressed their gratitude to the government and the Ministry of Energy, and assured the people of Ghana that they would produce good cables.
Story: Alice Aryeetey
THE Ministry of Energy has signed an agreement with three local manufacturing companies for the supply of GH¢80,000,000 worth of electrical cables and conductors for the implementation of the Self-Help Electrification Programme (SHEP).
The three local companies are Tropical Cables and Conductor Limited, Reroy Cables Limited and Nexans Kabelmetal (Gh) Limited.
Those who signed the agreement were Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, the sector minister, who signed on behalf of the ministry; Mr J.B. Quartey Papafio, for Reroy cables; Mr Martin Borovsky and Mr Aaron Sagoe, for Nexans Kabelmetal (Gh) Limited; and Mr Tony Oteng Gyasi, for Tropical Cables.
The extension of electricity infrastructure is the major objective of the government’s poverty reduction and growth agenda to support the operation of productive ventures, social projects and activities, especially in the rural areas.
It is anticipated that the extension of electricity would be a source of accelerated growth, poverty reduction and general prosperity to the people of Ghana.
According to Dr Oteng-Adjei, the active involvement of Ghanaians in the extension of electricity to rural areas through local content and participation would help create jobs.
That, he said, would also be a great source of income for jobless young graduates from the polytechnics and universities.
The National Electrification Scheme (NES), which is the vehicle for attaining the government’s major objective, commenced in 1990, with the aim of extending the reach of reliable electricity supply to all parts of the country over a 30-year period.
The SHEP was put on board to complement the NES to ensure that communities are connected to the national grid provided the communities fall within 20 km radius of an existing medium voltage (MV) network, among other things.
Dr Oteng-Adjei stated that 789 communities in the regions had ongoing projects to be completed under the programme.
“The project is being funded by a credit facility from the Trust Bank, and the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO), another local entity expected to supply molten aluminium that will be used for the manufacture of these cables,” he said.
The three companies were urged to seize the opportunity to prove to all that given the chance Ghanaian companies could deliver timeously and at competitive prices.
The minister said if it was discovered that the conductors and cables for the project were not made by the companies in Ghana, legal proceedings would be taken against them and their contract terminated.
The representatives of the three companies expressed their gratitude to the government and the Ministry of Energy, and assured the people of Ghana that they would produce good cables.
Contractors (commodities)
Story: Alice Aryeetey
A regulatory framework designed to enhance the image of the construction industry in Ghana is to be established.
The regulatory framework would be a specific response to the general tune of promoting sustainable growth in the sector along the country’s development path, and would provide appropriate legislation for driving best practices in the sector.
The Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors of Ghana (ABCECG), that is spearheading the process has called on the Government’s support in that regard.
The construction industry in Ghana holds the key to the development of the nation, but has been left alone without much attention.
It also contributes to national socio-economic development by providing significant employment opportunities to both the skilled and non-skilled.
It also provides the infrastructure and facilities such as schools, factories, and shops, housing, hospitals, and buildings for national communications network, required for other sectors of the economy to grow.
According to the General secretary of the construction and building materials workers union of Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Mr Pius Quainoo,the commercial exploitation of oil and gas will stimulate demands in the building and construction industry, and business, as usual cannot take Ghana to the new level of anticipated development.
At a sensitisation forum in Accra by the ABCECG, on the establishment of the regulatory body for the construction industry in Ghana,he said the circumstances in the building and construction sector needs change and improvement.
According to him the Construction Industry Development Board I envisage for Ghana should be a regulator that is insulated from Ministerial control.
“A regulatory framework is required to enhance the image of the sector which has sunk too low”, he added.
Mr Quainoo, said Ghana needs an independent multi-stakeholder regulatory body just as all progressive countries have done for the sector. He advised that the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) should be assigned with a specific agenda and provided with necessary resources and a clearly defined mandate to oversee the development of the industry.
The construction and Building Materials Workers Union of the GTUC proposed that the CIDB should be composed of State Owned Institutions, Private Sector Organisations, Trade unions, and Client Organisations.
He further said that labour representation should not be left out of the composition of the CIDB for Ghana when the law is been put together. “No entity could represent labour better than itself as the largest single civil society organisation”, he added.
The Deputy Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Dr Mustapha Ahmed, said it is relevant for all stakeholders to support this subject, because it would help address the challenges faced by the association.
He assured the Association that government has taken the lead in showing commitment in the formulation of policies and establishing institutions to support this cause and make the regulatory body sustainable when set up.
Story: Alice Aryeetey
A regulatory framework designed to enhance the image of the construction industry in Ghana is to be established.
The regulatory framework would be a specific response to the general tune of promoting sustainable growth in the sector along the country’s development path, and would provide appropriate legislation for driving best practices in the sector.
The Association of Building and Civil Engineering Contractors of Ghana (ABCECG), that is spearheading the process has called on the Government’s support in that regard.
The construction industry in Ghana holds the key to the development of the nation, but has been left alone without much attention.
It also contributes to national socio-economic development by providing significant employment opportunities to both the skilled and non-skilled.
It also provides the infrastructure and facilities such as schools, factories, and shops, housing, hospitals, and buildings for national communications network, required for other sectors of the economy to grow.
According to the General secretary of the construction and building materials workers union of Ghana Trades Union Congress (GTUC), Mr Pius Quainoo,the commercial exploitation of oil and gas will stimulate demands in the building and construction industry, and business, as usual cannot take Ghana to the new level of anticipated development.
At a sensitisation forum in Accra by the ABCECG, on the establishment of the regulatory body for the construction industry in Ghana,he said the circumstances in the building and construction sector needs change and improvement.
According to him the Construction Industry Development Board I envisage for Ghana should be a regulator that is insulated from Ministerial control.
“A regulatory framework is required to enhance the image of the sector which has sunk too low”, he added.
Mr Quainoo, said Ghana needs an independent multi-stakeholder regulatory body just as all progressive countries have done for the sector. He advised that the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) should be assigned with a specific agenda and provided with necessary resources and a clearly defined mandate to oversee the development of the industry.
The construction and Building Materials Workers Union of the GTUC proposed that the CIDB should be composed of State Owned Institutions, Private Sector Organisations, Trade unions, and Client Organisations.
He further said that labour representation should not be left out of the composition of the CIDB for Ghana when the law is been put together. “No entity could represent labour better than itself as the largest single civil society organisation”, he added.
The Deputy Minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing, Dr Mustapha Ahmed, said it is relevant for all stakeholders to support this subject, because it would help address the challenges faced by the association.
He assured the Association that government has taken the lead in showing commitment in the formulation of policies and establishing institutions to support this cause and make the regulatory body sustainable when set up.
Two dead (Courts &Crime)
Story: Alice Aryeetey
Residents of Black Smith near Laterbiokorshie in Accra are in a state of fear and shock over the mysterious death of two persons whose body was found in the area in two successive weeks.
The latest to have raised eyebrows is Septuagenarian, Samuel Nartey,aged 75, who was found dead last Saturday with blood stains on his body and shirt.
The deceased, identified by some residents as Foyoo, a landlord, was said to have left home on Friday morning to sign a tenancy agreement with one of his tenants at Gbawe in Accra but never returned until his body was found.
Although the residents claimed the incident was the second in two weeks, the Mamprobi police said last Saturday’s incident was the only one reported to it.
A polythene bag, and a receipt with the amount of GHC1400 signed on it was found beside the body. There was, however, no money in the polythene bag.
According to a tenant, known as Aunty Kukua, who lives in the same house with the deceased, he left the house on Friday morning to meet someone in one of his houses at Gbawe.
“He did not come back until this morning that we have found his dead body”, she said.
This was corroborated by another resident, Nii Boye, a close friend of the deceased,who said Foyoo left the house to sign a tenancy agreement and to take an amount money from someone who wanted to rent a room in one of his house at Gbawe, in Accra.
The residents alleged that the people who killed the man might have taken the money away and might have done so because of the money, and said that they suspect the person who gave the money to the man to be the one who killed him.
Even though the Mamprobi Police confirmed the story, a police officer who spoke to the Daily Graphic anonymously, said the station was not aware of the earlier incident involving an unidentified young man who was also found dead in a similarfashion.
The source said the family members of the dead man came to report that the old man was lying dead near the street at Blacksmith, so they would start investigations after a post mortem had been done to know if the man was murdered or he died a natural death.
As part of enhancing security in the area,the source told the Daily Graphic that they would intensify police patrol there, and would engage the residents in the area to help the police in combating crime in the area.
The source said the residents would be encouraged to form a watch dog committee in order to safeguard the area, and alert the police anytime they had a problem.
The police officer also advised Ghanaians to be careful anytime they go out in the evening, and advised that people should not stay out longer in the nights if they were alone, since crime rate or killing of people increase during Christmas or when it is getting closer to December.
Picture: The Deceased and the polythene found beside him at Blacksmith.
Story: Alice Aryeetey
Residents of Black Smith near Laterbiokorshie in Accra are in a state of fear and shock over the mysterious death of two persons whose body was found in the area in two successive weeks.
The latest to have raised eyebrows is Septuagenarian, Samuel Nartey,aged 75, who was found dead last Saturday with blood stains on his body and shirt.
The deceased, identified by some residents as Foyoo, a landlord, was said to have left home on Friday morning to sign a tenancy agreement with one of his tenants at Gbawe in Accra but never returned until his body was found.
Although the residents claimed the incident was the second in two weeks, the Mamprobi police said last Saturday’s incident was the only one reported to it.
A polythene bag, and a receipt with the amount of GHC1400 signed on it was found beside the body. There was, however, no money in the polythene bag.
According to a tenant, known as Aunty Kukua, who lives in the same house with the deceased, he left the house on Friday morning to meet someone in one of his houses at Gbawe.
“He did not come back until this morning that we have found his dead body”, she said.
This was corroborated by another resident, Nii Boye, a close friend of the deceased,who said Foyoo left the house to sign a tenancy agreement and to take an amount money from someone who wanted to rent a room in one of his house at Gbawe, in Accra.
The residents alleged that the people who killed the man might have taken the money away and might have done so because of the money, and said that they suspect the person who gave the money to the man to be the one who killed him.
Even though the Mamprobi Police confirmed the story, a police officer who spoke to the Daily Graphic anonymously, said the station was not aware of the earlier incident involving an unidentified young man who was also found dead in a similarfashion.
The source said the family members of the dead man came to report that the old man was lying dead near the street at Blacksmith, so they would start investigations after a post mortem had been done to know if the man was murdered or he died a natural death.
As part of enhancing security in the area,the source told the Daily Graphic that they would intensify police patrol there, and would engage the residents in the area to help the police in combating crime in the area.
The source said the residents would be encouraged to form a watch dog committee in order to safeguard the area, and alert the police anytime they had a problem.
The police officer also advised Ghanaians to be careful anytime they go out in the evening, and advised that people should not stay out longer in the nights if they were alone, since crime rate or killing of people increase during Christmas or when it is getting closer to December.
Picture: The Deceased and the polythene found beside him at Blacksmith.
Thursday 10 November 2011
(Bortianor Island) Fisherfolk turn landing site into permanent abode
Story and picture: Alice Aryeetey
A large number of people have abandoned their homes to live on a land between the sea and a river near Tsokomey, an area at Bortianor, in the Ga west municipality in the Greater Accra Region.
Anytime the sea and river overflow due to heavy rainfall, the people living on this island, popularly known as "Faa naa" lose their property but they are not dispirited enough to go back to their hometowns.
After the recent heavy rainfall, the river overflowed its banks and destroyed the structures, (huts and mud houses) that serve as homes for the people.
Some natives of Tsokomey said efforts made to evacuate the people had been unsuccessful .
The Solo Wulomo of Bortianor, Numo Commey V, a custodian of the land, said the land was given to some fishermen from Anloga in the Volta region so many years ago to use as a place of collating their catch and to have some rest after fishing before going back to their hometown.
The women that lived there at first, also smoked the fish to preserve them before it gets to the hinterland. They, therefore, built a few huts which they used as their sleeping place along the shores of the sea.
Currently, the place has become a big town, where people from Ada, Keta, and other towns in the Volta Region are living with their wives and children.
Some of the people, who have houses at Bortianor and Accra, have also left the comfort of their homes to this hazardous community where there is no potable water, electricity, hospital or school.
The children in this community always have to cross the river to the nearby town to school. Due to the non-existence of a hospital on this land, pregnant women deliver on canoes while they are been transported to the clinic in the nearby town and others also die on their way to the hospital.
Interestingly, women are forbidden from bearing children on the island, and it is also a taboo for one to die on the land.
When a woman is close to her delivery time or month, she has to move to another town to give birth before coming back to Faa naa.
Similarly, When a person dies, the family or household from which the person comes from is fined a sum of money and asked to provide a goat, bottles of schnapps, and pipes to perform some ritual to appease the gods of the sea.
Some of the people of the island who spoke to the Daily Graphic said that they had been living there for so many years and raised their families there, and therefore did not have anywhere to go if they were asked to leave.
Pix 1. A Hut of a resident collapsed by the flood
pix 2. The huts that have been built in between the river and the sea.
A large number of people have abandoned their homes to live on a land between the sea and a river near Tsokomey, an area at Bortianor, in the Ga west municipality in the Greater Accra Region.
Anytime the sea and river overflow due to heavy rainfall, the people living on this island, popularly known as "Faa naa" lose their property but they are not dispirited enough to go back to their hometowns.
After the recent heavy rainfall, the river overflowed its banks and destroyed the structures, (huts and mud houses) that serve as homes for the people.
Some natives of Tsokomey said efforts made to evacuate the people had been unsuccessful .
The Solo Wulomo of Bortianor, Numo Commey V, a custodian of the land, said the land was given to some fishermen from Anloga in the Volta region so many years ago to use as a place of collating their catch and to have some rest after fishing before going back to their hometown.
The women that lived there at first, also smoked the fish to preserve them before it gets to the hinterland. They, therefore, built a few huts which they used as their sleeping place along the shores of the sea.
Currently, the place has become a big town, where people from Ada, Keta, and other towns in the Volta Region are living with their wives and children.
Some of the people, who have houses at Bortianor and Accra, have also left the comfort of their homes to this hazardous community where there is no potable water, electricity, hospital or school.
The children in this community always have to cross the river to the nearby town to school. Due to the non-existence of a hospital on this land, pregnant women deliver on canoes while they are been transported to the clinic in the nearby town and others also die on their way to the hospital.
Interestingly, women are forbidden from bearing children on the island, and it is also a taboo for one to die on the land.
When a woman is close to her delivery time or month, she has to move to another town to give birth before coming back to Faa naa.
Similarly, When a person dies, the family or household from which the person comes from is fined a sum of money and asked to provide a goat, bottles of schnapps, and pipes to perform some ritual to appease the gods of the sea.
Some of the people of the island who spoke to the Daily Graphic said that they had been living there for so many years and raised their families there, and therefore did not have anywhere to go if they were asked to leave.
Pix 1. A Hut of a resident collapsed by the flood
pix 2. The huts that have been built in between the river and the sea.
Sunday 6 November 2011
Pupils study under sheds - Awaiting inauguration of new classrooms
Pupils study under sheds - Awaiting inauguration of new classrooms
Story and picture: Alice Aryeetey
SOME lower primary pupils of the Kpobikope D/A Primary School in the Ga West Municipality continue to study under trees and sheds, despite the completion of a classroom block for the school two months ago.
This is because the classroom block, which was built as part of government’s efforts to eliminate children studying under trees, remains locked awaiting furniture and its official inauguration.
The pupils are, however, using some chairs and tables under the trees and have to be cramped into existing classrooms anytime it rains.
The keys to the new block are in the custody of the Ga West Municipal assembly. Officials maintain that the new building needed to be well-furnished to adequately cater for the needs of the pupils.
According to the Headmaster of the school, Mr. James Badji, the classroom block was completed about two months ago and the keys to the classrooms were handed over to the officials.
He said the pupils felt insecure anytime it rained which also affected smooth academic work.
“We informed the Municipal Chief Executive about it but he also insisted that the classroom block needs to be inaugurated before use”, he said.
When the Graphic contacted the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ga West Municipal assembly, he said contract had been awarded for the procurement of new furniture to be used in the new classrooms and that they were waiting for the furniture before the classroom would be inaugurated for use.
“Since it is a new building, we also want the furniture to be new before opening them”, he said.
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