August 28, 2008 Centre Spread
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Government has constituted a three-member committee to review the current salt-winning technology and project management system of the Ada Songor Salt Project.
The setting up of the committee was necessitated by agitations of workers of the Ada Songor Salt Project over the manner in which the project was being implemented by the five-member interim management committee overseeing it.
The Minister of Lands, Forestry and Mines, Ms Esther Obeng Dappah, who inaugurated the committee yesterday, said the aim was “to ensure the efficient management of the exploitation of the salt resources in the project area”.
The Ada Songor Salt Project is a government enterprise to produce salt in the Ada Songor Lagoon area. The project has been managed by a five-member interim management committee since 2002.
Ghana possesses one of the largest proven renewable solar salt potential along the West African coast, and stretches a distance of about 500 kilometres of her coast line.
The committee is chaired by a representative of the Attorney General’s Department, with a chartered accountant, Mr Emmanuel Ofosu Offei, and a mining engineer, Mr James Adjei, both from the Minerals Commission, as the other members.
Ms Obeng Dappah said the committee was expected to review the performance of the interim management committee and the system of employing casual labour for salt harvesting and to identify the most cost-effective method for harvesting salt and review the salt marketing system being employed, with the view to identifying strengths and weaknesses.
They are also to review the project’s accounting system and identify any weaknesses.
It will also re-examine the project management system, including labour and management relations and make recommendations on the findings within two months.
Ms Obeng Dappah said the government’s main objective “is the optimum development of the salt industry to ensure improved foreign exchange earnings, employment generation and poverty alleviation”.
She indicated that the importance of the salt and allied chemical and petroleum industries to the economy could not be over-emphasised, much more when the nation had discovered oil.
She expressed the hope that the committee would live up to the task assigned to it, “so that upon the implementation of its recommendations, our efforts at maximising the contribution of this important salt industry to Ghana’s march to maximising the targets of the nation’s development goals would be achieved”.
Ms Obeng Dappah noted that the country had the potential of producing more than 2.0 million metric tonnes of salt per annum, but the current production was less than 0.5 million metric tonnes per annum.
It is estimated that the effective exploitation of salt would enable the country to supply the salt needs of the sub-region.
Specific areas that had been identified as salt production target zones are Weija and Dangme East and West districts in the Greater Accra Region, Keta and Ketu districts in the Volta Region, Gomoa, Awutu-Effutu, Mfantsiman and Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirem districts in the Central Region, and Ahanta West District in the Western Region.
Ms Obeng Dappah said government’s efforts at salt production were directed at addressing the difficulties confronting the salt industry, such as poor organisation and development of the industry due to disputes over land ownership and subsequent social upheavals, weak institutional support, inefficient production methods and poor environmental management of salt production.
Consequently, she said, the government had engaged a consultant to prepare a land use plan for the regularisation of land use within the Ada Songor Lagoon area, and indicated that the consultant had submitted a final report whose recommendations were being studied by the government.
Mr Adjei, who spoke on behalf of the other members, gave the assurance that the committee would investigate all issues involved in the matter and make the necessary recommendation for the government to take the appropriate action.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Controvesy over Hajj deepens
August 27, 2008 pg 31
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru & Sahadatu Atintande
THE controversy over who has the mandate to organise this year’s pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) deepened after the Interim Hajj Management Committee (IHMC) also announced its Hajj fare.
That was barely three days after the restructured National Hajj Council (NHC) had announced its Hajj fare and insisted that it was the only mandated body to organise the Hajj.
The NHC pegged the Hajj fare at $2,999 while the IHMC fixed it at $3,100.
The Chairman of the IHMC, Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru, who announced the $3,100 Hajj fare at a press conference in Accra, indicated that the committee which was constituted by the National Chief Imam was the only recognised body to organise the Hajj.
“This committee which is made up of seven members derives its mandate to be responsible for organising 2008 Hajj from the National Chief Imam and Mufti of the Republic of Ghana, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu. Recognising the important role of government in the organisation of Hajj in this country, the National Chief Imam has duly communicated the composition and presence of this committee to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana for government’s endorsement and support to enable the committee carry out its mandate”, he said.
Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru said the Hajj package was agreed upon after three meetings with the Ghana Hajj Agents Association.
The Hajj fare covers air ticket, accommodation in Mecca and Madina, transportation, medicare, task force, administrative and bank charges, among others.
Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru said payments should be done to only accredited Hajj agents.
He said at those meetings the two bodies agreed to retrieve locked up luggage of last year’s pilgrims from the Kotoka International Airport and resolved the funding for the 728 stranded passengers for the last two years of Hajj operations.
Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru said the committee had attended the Hajj conference in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from May 25-31, 2008 during which a quota of 3,000 pilgrims was agreed on for Ghana, an increase of 300 over last year’s figure.
Besides, he said, all the various contracts for transportation, tent and services were signed with the various Hajj authorities, and indicated that the committee had “signed the final contract with the Minister of Hajj of Saudi Arabia”.
On flight arrangements, Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru said the committee had sent letters to Egypt Air, which had responded for both charter and scheduled flights, Ethiopian Airline and Emirates, both of which had responded for scheduled flights and Antrak Air, which “has not responded to our request”.
He said the tentative date for the departure was from November 15-23, 2008, while the pilgrims would be returning home from December 16-23, 2008.
According to Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru, this time around, the IHMC would avoid the overstay of prospective pilgrims at the Aviation Social Centre before departure and indicated that the maximum stay for would-be pilgrims at the airport before departure would be eight hours.
He assured Muslims that his outfit would ensure that this year’s Hajj was organised in an orderly fashion devoid of the problems of late departure and late arrival.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru & Sahadatu Atintande
THE controversy over who has the mandate to organise this year’s pilgrimage to Mecca (Hajj) deepened after the Interim Hajj Management Committee (IHMC) also announced its Hajj fare.
That was barely three days after the restructured National Hajj Council (NHC) had announced its Hajj fare and insisted that it was the only mandated body to organise the Hajj.
The NHC pegged the Hajj fare at $2,999 while the IHMC fixed it at $3,100.
The Chairman of the IHMC, Alhaji Limuna Mohammed-Muniru, who announced the $3,100 Hajj fare at a press conference in Accra, indicated that the committee which was constituted by the National Chief Imam was the only recognised body to organise the Hajj.
“This committee which is made up of seven members derives its mandate to be responsible for organising 2008 Hajj from the National Chief Imam and Mufti of the Republic of Ghana, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu. Recognising the important role of government in the organisation of Hajj in this country, the National Chief Imam has duly communicated the composition and presence of this committee to His Excellency the President of the Republic of Ghana for government’s endorsement and support to enable the committee carry out its mandate”, he said.
Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru said the Hajj package was agreed upon after three meetings with the Ghana Hajj Agents Association.
The Hajj fare covers air ticket, accommodation in Mecca and Madina, transportation, medicare, task force, administrative and bank charges, among others.
Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru said payments should be done to only accredited Hajj agents.
He said at those meetings the two bodies agreed to retrieve locked up luggage of last year’s pilgrims from the Kotoka International Airport and resolved the funding for the 728 stranded passengers for the last two years of Hajj operations.
Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru said the committee had attended the Hajj conference in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from May 25-31, 2008 during which a quota of 3,000 pilgrims was agreed on for Ghana, an increase of 300 over last year’s figure.
Besides, he said, all the various contracts for transportation, tent and services were signed with the various Hajj authorities, and indicated that the committee had “signed the final contract with the Minister of Hajj of Saudi Arabia”.
On flight arrangements, Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru said the committee had sent letters to Egypt Air, which had responded for both charter and scheduled flights, Ethiopian Airline and Emirates, both of which had responded for scheduled flights and Antrak Air, which “has not responded to our request”.
He said the tentative date for the departure was from November 15-23, 2008, while the pilgrims would be returning home from December 16-23, 2008.
According to Alhaji Mohammed-Muniru, this time around, the IHMC would avoid the overstay of prospective pilgrims at the Aviation Social Centre before departure and indicated that the maximum stay for would-be pilgrims at the airport before departure would be eight hours.
He assured Muslims that his outfit would ensure that this year’s Hajj was organised in an orderly fashion devoid of the problems of late departure and late arrival.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
August 9, 2008
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru & Matilda N.A Attram
A PRESSURE group has threatened to sue any Member of Parliament (MP), including the Speaker, who will approve the sale of the 70 per cent of Ghana Telecom (GT) shares to Vodafone, a British company.
A spokesperson for the group, Mr Bright Akwetey, said if they approved it, the group would cite the legislators for “intentionally causing financial loss to the state”.
Calling themselves Concerned Ghanaian Citizens Against the Sale of GT, they argued that the sale agreement “offends our national security, national sovereignty and the authority of the courts and the laws of this country”.
Therefore, it said, any MP, including the Speaker, who would approve the Vodafone agreement for implementation, would risk committing a ‘serious’ breach of faith which might have the potential of culminating in intentionally causing financial loss to the state.
The group outlined its stand at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday and stressed that, “we have enough evidence to establish that offence”.
They asked the government to abrogate the contract since the deal was not in the interest of the state and said Vodafone would pay $900 million for the 70 per cent GT shares, but apart from the 70 per cent shares, the government, by virtue of the provisions in Schedule 16 to the agreement, was handing over to Vodafone other state assets, which compromised national security.
Mr Akwetey, who is a legal practitioner, mentioned Voltacom (Volta Communications Company Limited), a communications company established by the Volta River Authority (VRA) as a separate business entity that provides communication services to other communication companies for a fee, as one of the companies to be transferred to Vodafone.
He said the VRA optical fibre network installed by VRA with public funds, which was incorporated within the VRA Electrical Transmission Network and used for distribution of electrical power to end users; the VRA fibre assets, which comprise all property equipment and assets relating to the VRA Fibre Network; and Fibreco, a company established by the National Communications Authority (NCA) as a communications backbone for the country, were some of the assets to be transferred to Vodafone.
He said giving Vodafone access to the VRA Electrical Transmission Network meant that it would take possession of the electrical transmission network owned by VRA, including lands, buildings, towers, cable, equipment and other assets.
Mr Akwetey said the VRA Electrical Transmission Network was an integral part of our country’s national security apparatus, while VRA was also a strategic national asset.
“We, therefore, cannot fathom why for $900 million the government should grant virtual unimpeded access to the electrical transmission network to Vodafone. Our national security is being seriously compromised,” he stressed.
According to him, there was an aspect of the sale agreement that amounted to a ‘total surrender of our sovereignty as a country to Vodafone, which relates to the manner of the transfer, not sale, of the five other public assets to Vodafone”.
On the challenge to the authority of the courts, Mr Akwetey said under the rubric, “No Injunction”, Article 6.1.6 of the agreement, stipulates that: “There shall not be any injunction or order that prohibits/restrains the sale of shares by GOG to the purchaser in particular or generally”.
That, he said, was tantamount to a complete ouster of the jurisdiction of the courts of the country in administering justice as far as the agreement was concerned.
Besides, he said, under Article 10.7 of the agreement, the government had undertaken to waive its rights to prosecute any of the officers of all the companies constituting the so-called Enlarged GT Group for any acts of corruption committed in the course of their duties.
Mr Akwetey said although the agreement was required to be governed by the laws of Ghana, the authority of the country’s courts to adjudicate on disputes or conflicts that might arise from the execution of the agreement had been placed at the doorstep of the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce.
An economist and co-spokesperson of the group, Nii Moi Thompson, proposed the recapitalisation of GT from the $300 million that the government was borrowing to accommodate Vodafone’s demands for debt-free assets, and called for the prosecution of GT management, including the Norwegian management team, for the adverse findings of financial improprieties made against them by the company’s internal auditors.
He called for depoliticisation of the management of GT and make it transparent, the purging of GT Board of Directors of political appointees and the preparation of GT for listing on the Ghana Stock Exchange and give Ghanaians the opportunity to own part of their national assets.
Mr Ofori Ampofo, who chaired the function, said the sale of state assets had not benefited the nation, hence the need for the Vodafone deal to be abrogated.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru & Matilda N.A Attram
A PRESSURE group has threatened to sue any Member of Parliament (MP), including the Speaker, who will approve the sale of the 70 per cent of Ghana Telecom (GT) shares to Vodafone, a British company.
A spokesperson for the group, Mr Bright Akwetey, said if they approved it, the group would cite the legislators for “intentionally causing financial loss to the state”.
Calling themselves Concerned Ghanaian Citizens Against the Sale of GT, they argued that the sale agreement “offends our national security, national sovereignty and the authority of the courts and the laws of this country”.
Therefore, it said, any MP, including the Speaker, who would approve the Vodafone agreement for implementation, would risk committing a ‘serious’ breach of faith which might have the potential of culminating in intentionally causing financial loss to the state.
The group outlined its stand at a press conference in Accra on Wednesday and stressed that, “we have enough evidence to establish that offence”.
They asked the government to abrogate the contract since the deal was not in the interest of the state and said Vodafone would pay $900 million for the 70 per cent GT shares, but apart from the 70 per cent shares, the government, by virtue of the provisions in Schedule 16 to the agreement, was handing over to Vodafone other state assets, which compromised national security.
Mr Akwetey, who is a legal practitioner, mentioned Voltacom (Volta Communications Company Limited), a communications company established by the Volta River Authority (VRA) as a separate business entity that provides communication services to other communication companies for a fee, as one of the companies to be transferred to Vodafone.
He said the VRA optical fibre network installed by VRA with public funds, which was incorporated within the VRA Electrical Transmission Network and used for distribution of electrical power to end users; the VRA fibre assets, which comprise all property equipment and assets relating to the VRA Fibre Network; and Fibreco, a company established by the National Communications Authority (NCA) as a communications backbone for the country, were some of the assets to be transferred to Vodafone.
He said giving Vodafone access to the VRA Electrical Transmission Network meant that it would take possession of the electrical transmission network owned by VRA, including lands, buildings, towers, cable, equipment and other assets.
Mr Akwetey said the VRA Electrical Transmission Network was an integral part of our country’s national security apparatus, while VRA was also a strategic national asset.
“We, therefore, cannot fathom why for $900 million the government should grant virtual unimpeded access to the electrical transmission network to Vodafone. Our national security is being seriously compromised,” he stressed.
According to him, there was an aspect of the sale agreement that amounted to a ‘total surrender of our sovereignty as a country to Vodafone, which relates to the manner of the transfer, not sale, of the five other public assets to Vodafone”.
On the challenge to the authority of the courts, Mr Akwetey said under the rubric, “No Injunction”, Article 6.1.6 of the agreement, stipulates that: “There shall not be any injunction or order that prohibits/restrains the sale of shares by GOG to the purchaser in particular or generally”.
That, he said, was tantamount to a complete ouster of the jurisdiction of the courts of the country in administering justice as far as the agreement was concerned.
Besides, he said, under Article 10.7 of the agreement, the government had undertaken to waive its rights to prosecute any of the officers of all the companies constituting the so-called Enlarged GT Group for any acts of corruption committed in the course of their duties.
Mr Akwetey said although the agreement was required to be governed by the laws of Ghana, the authority of the country’s courts to adjudicate on disputes or conflicts that might arise from the execution of the agreement had been placed at the doorstep of the Rules of Arbitration of the International Chamber of Commerce.
An economist and co-spokesperson of the group, Nii Moi Thompson, proposed the recapitalisation of GT from the $300 million that the government was borrowing to accommodate Vodafone’s demands for debt-free assets, and called for the prosecution of GT management, including the Norwegian management team, for the adverse findings of financial improprieties made against them by the company’s internal auditors.
He called for depoliticisation of the management of GT and make it transparent, the purging of GT Board of Directors of political appointees and the preparation of GT for listing on the Ghana Stock Exchange and give Ghanaians the opportunity to own part of their national assets.
Mr Ofori Ampofo, who chaired the function, said the sale of state assets had not benefited the nation, hence the need for the Vodafone deal to be abrogated.
NCCE meets with security agencies over election
August 13, 2008
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) is holding series of meetings with the security agencies on how to maintain peace during the forthcoming general election.
The Greater Accra Regional Director of NCCE, Mrs Doris O. T. Archampong, said the NCCE and the security agencies, including the army, the police, officials of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) discussed how to provide security for the media and the populace during the elections.
She was speaking at a forum organised by her outfit to interact with media practitioners and fashion out how the NCCE and the media could collaborate to promote peace, tolerance and fairness before, during and after the elections.
Mrs Archampong said the meetings with the security agencies was crucial as they were being used to remind the military and police officers of their responsibility to provide peace to the citizenry during the elections.
She said the media were crucial to the success of the elections, and that they needed protection to be able to perform their task efficiently.
Therefore, she said, the NCCE wanted to drum home the need for the security agencies to ensure that the media practitioners were given the protection in the performance of their legitimate responsibility.
Mrs Archampong reminded the media of their responsibility during this year’s election, given the ‘massive influence’ they had on society, saying that “you could make or unmake the peace if you depart from the code of ethics, which guides your work as the conscience of society”.
“You also have the propensity to shape the consciousness of the citizenry towards the attainment of peace when you send the right messages to the people through your reportage,” she stressed.
Mrs Archampong said there had been examples in recent history, when through unguarded media reports, whole nations had fallen into serious conflicts, and mentioned the Nigerian civil war and the recent disturbances in Kenya as examples.
She, therefore, appealed to journalists to “send the right signals to the people with regard to the forthcoming general elections in order to ensure peace before, during and after the period of the election”.
Mrs Archampong expressed worry at the long queues and purported registration of minors at the recent limited voter registration exercise.
She attributed the situation to the lack of effective collaboration between the Electoral Commission (EC) and the NCCE on how to educate the public on the registration exercise.
She suggested that future registration exercises should be done with effective collaboration between the NCCE and the EC to sensitise the public to the dos and don’ts of the exercise.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE) is holding series of meetings with the security agencies on how to maintain peace during the forthcoming general election.
The Greater Accra Regional Director of NCCE, Mrs Doris O. T. Archampong, said the NCCE and the security agencies, including the army, the police, officials of the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) discussed how to provide security for the media and the populace during the elections.
She was speaking at a forum organised by her outfit to interact with media practitioners and fashion out how the NCCE and the media could collaborate to promote peace, tolerance and fairness before, during and after the elections.
Mrs Archampong said the meetings with the security agencies was crucial as they were being used to remind the military and police officers of their responsibility to provide peace to the citizenry during the elections.
She said the media were crucial to the success of the elections, and that they needed protection to be able to perform their task efficiently.
Therefore, she said, the NCCE wanted to drum home the need for the security agencies to ensure that the media practitioners were given the protection in the performance of their legitimate responsibility.
Mrs Archampong reminded the media of their responsibility during this year’s election, given the ‘massive influence’ they had on society, saying that “you could make or unmake the peace if you depart from the code of ethics, which guides your work as the conscience of society”.
“You also have the propensity to shape the consciousness of the citizenry towards the attainment of peace when you send the right messages to the people through your reportage,” she stressed.
Mrs Archampong said there had been examples in recent history, when through unguarded media reports, whole nations had fallen into serious conflicts, and mentioned the Nigerian civil war and the recent disturbances in Kenya as examples.
She, therefore, appealed to journalists to “send the right signals to the people with regard to the forthcoming general elections in order to ensure peace before, during and after the period of the election”.
Mrs Archampong expressed worry at the long queues and purported registration of minors at the recent limited voter registration exercise.
She attributed the situation to the lack of effective collaboration between the Electoral Commission (EC) and the NCCE on how to educate the public on the registration exercise.
She suggested that future registration exercises should be done with effective collaboration between the NCCE and the EC to sensitise the public to the dos and don’ts of the exercise.
Ghana Atomic Energy Commission to improve facilities
August 15, 2008
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) has secured a $820,000 grant from the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF) to upgrade its irradiation facility to preserve food and sterilise medical products in commercial quantities.
The Commission has facilitated additional soft loan of $14 million for the upgrading and expansion of radiotherapy and nuclear medicine centres for cancer management.
The Director-General of the GAEC, Prof. Edward H. K. Akaho, said the upgrading of the irradiation facility would ensure that irradiation conducted by the Commission would meet international standards and promote the export of the country’s agricultural produce, while the expansion of the radiotherapy and nuclear medicine centres would ensure a comprehensive cancer programme in the country.
He was speaking in Accra during a visit to the GAEC facilities by the Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education and Science, Ms Elizabeth Ohene.
The GAEC officials led the Minister of State on a tour of the Chemistry Department, Accelerator Buildings, the Reactor Centre, the Radiation Protection Institute, the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute and the Graduate School of Allied and Nuclear Sciences.
Prof. Akaho said “protocols have been developed for preservation of food and sterilisation of medical products”, and indicated that it was based on that work that the government through the EDIF had given the Commission the loan grant to upgrade the existing facility for irradiation.
“The Commission is presently involved in various research activities to address the socio-economic problems of human health, agriculture and nutrition, industry and environment,” he said.
Prof. Akaho mentioned the development of a variety of cocoa that was resistant to swollen shoot disease as one of the modest achievements of the Commission, and noted that there were currently 25 cocoa farms with that cocoa variety.
He said GAEC rendered services to the petrochemical industry and mining companies using non-destructive techniques with the view to optimising industrial processes.
Prof. Akaho said with the recent discovery of oil, the Commission had positioned itself to support oil, gas and petrochemical industries.
To that end, he said, GAEC was expanding its institutional capacity by establishing an accelerator laboratory to support research and development and higher education of nuclear and related professionals.
He said for the preservation, maintenance and enhancement of nuclear knowledge to manage, operate and utilise existing and planned nuclear facilities in Ghana and Africa, the Commission jointly with the University of Ghana, Legon, had established the Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences to train scientists in nuclear energy.
Ms Ohene said the acceleration of the country’s development depended on science and technology, and reiterated the government’s resolve to make science the “main driving factor and the engine of growth”.
She said Ghanaians, especially the youth, did not have time to waste, and that science was needed to transform the country’s economy in a shortest possible time.
Ms Ohene commended GAEC for their work, which impacted on the nation’s development efforts, and challenged the GAEC scientists to publicise their work to justify any government support, since there were competing demands.
“We (the government) are now building infrastructure so those who are loudest get help,” she stressed.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) has secured a $820,000 grant from the Export Development and Investment Fund (EDIF) to upgrade its irradiation facility to preserve food and sterilise medical products in commercial quantities.
The Commission has facilitated additional soft loan of $14 million for the upgrading and expansion of radiotherapy and nuclear medicine centres for cancer management.
The Director-General of the GAEC, Prof. Edward H. K. Akaho, said the upgrading of the irradiation facility would ensure that irradiation conducted by the Commission would meet international standards and promote the export of the country’s agricultural produce, while the expansion of the radiotherapy and nuclear medicine centres would ensure a comprehensive cancer programme in the country.
He was speaking in Accra during a visit to the GAEC facilities by the Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education and Science, Ms Elizabeth Ohene.
The GAEC officials led the Minister of State on a tour of the Chemistry Department, Accelerator Buildings, the Reactor Centre, the Radiation Protection Institute, the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute and the Graduate School of Allied and Nuclear Sciences.
Prof. Akaho said “protocols have been developed for preservation of food and sterilisation of medical products”, and indicated that it was based on that work that the government through the EDIF had given the Commission the loan grant to upgrade the existing facility for irradiation.
“The Commission is presently involved in various research activities to address the socio-economic problems of human health, agriculture and nutrition, industry and environment,” he said.
Prof. Akaho mentioned the development of a variety of cocoa that was resistant to swollen shoot disease as one of the modest achievements of the Commission, and noted that there were currently 25 cocoa farms with that cocoa variety.
He said GAEC rendered services to the petrochemical industry and mining companies using non-destructive techniques with the view to optimising industrial processes.
Prof. Akaho said with the recent discovery of oil, the Commission had positioned itself to support oil, gas and petrochemical industries.
To that end, he said, GAEC was expanding its institutional capacity by establishing an accelerator laboratory to support research and development and higher education of nuclear and related professionals.
He said for the preservation, maintenance and enhancement of nuclear knowledge to manage, operate and utilise existing and planned nuclear facilities in Ghana and Africa, the Commission jointly with the University of Ghana, Legon, had established the Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences to train scientists in nuclear energy.
Ms Ohene said the acceleration of the country’s development depended on science and technology, and reiterated the government’s resolve to make science the “main driving factor and the engine of growth”.
She said Ghanaians, especially the youth, did not have time to waste, and that science was needed to transform the country’s economy in a shortest possible time.
Ms Ohene commended GAEC for their work, which impacted on the nation’s development efforts, and challenged the GAEC scientists to publicise their work to justify any government support, since there were competing demands.
“We (the government) are now building infrastructure so those who are loudest get help,” she stressed.
(’My commitment to development not to earn praise’
August 26, 2008 pg 21
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North, Mr Kennedy Agyapong, has reiterated his commitment to solicit support from the government and local and international donors to support the development of the area.
He said his commitment to develop the area was not to earn a praise but in the spirit of serving his people in particular and the nation as a whole.
Mr Agyapong made the call when he visited the Afutuakwaman’s palace.
The chiefs and people of Afutuakwaman used the occasion to honour Mr Agyapong for his dedicated services to the area by way of initiating development projects.
Mr Agyapong asked the youth in the area not to be daunted by the fact that they were not living in the city.
He challenged the youth to pursue higher education to develop their potential to appropriately position them to contribute their quota towards the national reconstruction programme.
The Queen of Afutuakwaman, Nana Afranse III, urged Mr Agyapong to use his position to guide the youth in their endeavours.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Assin North, Mr Kennedy Agyapong, has reiterated his commitment to solicit support from the government and local and international donors to support the development of the area.
He said his commitment to develop the area was not to earn a praise but in the spirit of serving his people in particular and the nation as a whole.
Mr Agyapong made the call when he visited the Afutuakwaman’s palace.
The chiefs and people of Afutuakwaman used the occasion to honour Mr Agyapong for his dedicated services to the area by way of initiating development projects.
Mr Agyapong asked the youth in the area not to be daunted by the fact that they were not living in the city.
He challenged the youth to pursue higher education to develop their potential to appropriately position them to contribute their quota towards the national reconstruction programme.
The Queen of Afutuakwaman, Nana Afranse III, urged Mr Agyapong to use his position to guide the youth in their endeavours.
Vodafone deal threat to national security — Security expert
Auust 25, 2008
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
A SECURITY expert, Dr Kwesi Aning, has indicated that the transfer of strategic communication assets to Vodafone will expose confidential information on national security to the outside world.
He added that information on mineral and oil production was also likely to be exposed.
Dr Aning, who was speaking in an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic, mentioned the communication lines and software of the Presidency, the Ministry of Defence and the national security apparatus as some of the strategic confidential state information lines that could be compromised.
Dr Aning, who is the Head of the Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution Department of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), was reacting to concerns raised by sections of the Ghanaian populace, that the security of the nation would be affected with the transfer of the strategic communications assets to Vodafone International Holdings Company Limited of the United Kingdom.
A pressure group, the Concerned Ghanaian Citizens Against the Sale of 70 per cent of Ghana Telecom (GT) to Vodafone, at a recent press conference in Accra, said the transfer of Volta River Authority (VRA) Transmission Network, which is an integral part of the national security apparatus, and other strategic transmission networks would compromise national security.
Parliament voted in favour of the sale of the 70 per cent GT shares to Vodafone at $900 million on Thursday, August 14, 2008, after intense opposition by the Minority in Parliament. A total of 124 Members of Parliament (MPs) voted for the approval of the agreement, 74 of them voted against it. Vodafone effected the payment of the $900 million barely 24 hours after Parliament had voted in favour of the sale.
The government argued that GT was running at a deficit, and that if the 70 per cent shares were not sold to Vodafone, GT could collapse within the next six months.
Dr Aning stressed the need for the government to consider safeguarding the country’s confidential information and not relinquish everything to Vodafone, saying that “Ghana’s interest is different from that of Vodafone ... their interest is not the same as that of Ghana”.
He said once Vodafone had the control over the President’s means of communication, as well as those of the Ministry of Defence and national security apparatus, the company could manipulate the information on the software and expose it to the outside world.
Besides, Dr Aning said, with the discovery of oil, important information regarding the volumes of barrels to be produced, as well as the ounces of gold found, could be made known to the outside world, without authorisation from the state.
In the event of that, he said, “there is nothing that we (Ghanaians) can hide, since the transmission lines “are in the hands of foreigners”.
To protect information on national security, Dr Aning suggested that special transmission or communication lines be developed for the presidency, the Ministry of Defence and national security as a way of protecting confidential national information.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
A SECURITY expert, Dr Kwesi Aning, has indicated that the transfer of strategic communication assets to Vodafone will expose confidential information on national security to the outside world.
He added that information on mineral and oil production was also likely to be exposed.
Dr Aning, who was speaking in an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic, mentioned the communication lines and software of the Presidency, the Ministry of Defence and the national security apparatus as some of the strategic confidential state information lines that could be compromised.
Dr Aning, who is the Head of the Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution Department of the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC), was reacting to concerns raised by sections of the Ghanaian populace, that the security of the nation would be affected with the transfer of the strategic communications assets to Vodafone International Holdings Company Limited of the United Kingdom.
A pressure group, the Concerned Ghanaian Citizens Against the Sale of 70 per cent of Ghana Telecom (GT) to Vodafone, at a recent press conference in Accra, said the transfer of Volta River Authority (VRA) Transmission Network, which is an integral part of the national security apparatus, and other strategic transmission networks would compromise national security.
Parliament voted in favour of the sale of the 70 per cent GT shares to Vodafone at $900 million on Thursday, August 14, 2008, after intense opposition by the Minority in Parliament. A total of 124 Members of Parliament (MPs) voted for the approval of the agreement, 74 of them voted against it. Vodafone effected the payment of the $900 million barely 24 hours after Parliament had voted in favour of the sale.
The government argued that GT was running at a deficit, and that if the 70 per cent shares were not sold to Vodafone, GT could collapse within the next six months.
Dr Aning stressed the need for the government to consider safeguarding the country’s confidential information and not relinquish everything to Vodafone, saying that “Ghana’s interest is different from that of Vodafone ... their interest is not the same as that of Ghana”.
He said once Vodafone had the control over the President’s means of communication, as well as those of the Ministry of Defence and national security apparatus, the company could manipulate the information on the software and expose it to the outside world.
Besides, Dr Aning said, with the discovery of oil, important information regarding the volumes of barrels to be produced, as well as the ounces of gold found, could be made known to the outside world, without authorisation from the state.
In the event of that, he said, “there is nothing that we (Ghanaians) can hide, since the transmission lines “are in the hands of foreigners”.
To protect information on national security, Dr Aning suggested that special transmission or communication lines be developed for the presidency, the Ministry of Defence and national security as a way of protecting confidential national information.
Controversy over who organises 2008 Hajj
August 25, 2008 pg 49
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru & Sahadatu Atintande
THE restructured National Hajj Council (NHC) has pegged this year’s Hajj fare at $2,999, amidst controversy over who has the mandate to organise the Hajj.
The restructured NHC was formed following the recommendation of a national conference on Hajj held in Accra early this year.
And only this week, the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu, appointed a seven-member Interim Hajj Committee (IHC) to organise this year’s Hajj.
A letter from the National Chief Imam, dated July 14, 2008, said the appointment had been made to improve upon the efficiency of Hajj operations in Ghana and avoid unnecessary administrative costs.
The Co-ordinator of the Board of Trustees of the NHC, Mr Mohammed Frimpong, however, insisted at a press conference in Accra that it was only the NHC that had the mandate to organise this year’s Hajj, since it was formed by 10 stakeholder organisations, which have representatives on the Council.
He said the NHC had already made arrangements towards the successful organisation of this year’s Hajj, in terms of accommodation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, aircraft, transportation and health care.
Mr Frimpong said the NHC would resist the attempt of the IHC to organise the Hajj, and threatened to take legal action against the members of the IHC, if they insisted on organising it.
He cautioned prospective pilgrims against paying their fare to any organisation other than the NHC, since it was the only mandated body to organise the Hajj.
Mr Frimpong argued that the NHC was able to organise a successful Hajj in the 2005/6 Hajj barely three months after its formation.
He promised to ensure transparency, accountability and best practice in the organisation of this year’s Hajj.
He said representatives of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service(CEPS), the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) were on the National Hajj Council.
He noted that the NHC would not abdicate its responsibility towards the 499 pilgrims who could not go on the 2006/2007 Hajj and would therefore like those affected to provide the council with the necessary information so that they could begin the process of addressing their case.
Mr Frimpong said the NHC would also support any effort that would find a redress for all those affected by the 2007/2008 Hajj failure, if the affected persons would provide information about themselves to enable them to take up the matter with the relevant authorities and key persons.
The Hajj fare package, which is an increase of $699 over that of last year, covers accommodation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, transportation, airfare, health care, education and miscellaneous expenses.
Mr Frimpong, who announced the package at a press conference in Accra on Friday, said the increase in the Hajj fare was necessitated by the soaring global fuel price, which is a major component in determining the cost of air ticket, especially for the Hajj.
Besides, he said, massive housing demolition work being undertaken in and around the Haram (Holy Mosque) in Mecca — the central area of the performance of Hajj — had contributed to the rise in the cost of accommodation.
However, Mr Frimpong said there were some favourable developments which had brought about the consideration by the government in assigning a Saudi designation to a local private airline operator, Antrak Air, to enable it to fly Accra-Jeddah and therefore carry out Hajj flights for Ghanaian pilgrims this year.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru & Sahadatu Atintande
THE restructured National Hajj Council (NHC) has pegged this year’s Hajj fare at $2,999, amidst controversy over who has the mandate to organise the Hajj.
The restructured NHC was formed following the recommendation of a national conference on Hajj held in Accra early this year.
And only this week, the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Usman Nuhu Sharubutu, appointed a seven-member Interim Hajj Committee (IHC) to organise this year’s Hajj.
A letter from the National Chief Imam, dated July 14, 2008, said the appointment had been made to improve upon the efficiency of Hajj operations in Ghana and avoid unnecessary administrative costs.
The Co-ordinator of the Board of Trustees of the NHC, Mr Mohammed Frimpong, however, insisted at a press conference in Accra that it was only the NHC that had the mandate to organise this year’s Hajj, since it was formed by 10 stakeholder organisations, which have representatives on the Council.
He said the NHC had already made arrangements towards the successful organisation of this year’s Hajj, in terms of accommodation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, aircraft, transportation and health care.
Mr Frimpong said the NHC would resist the attempt of the IHC to organise the Hajj, and threatened to take legal action against the members of the IHC, if they insisted on organising it.
He cautioned prospective pilgrims against paying their fare to any organisation other than the NHC, since it was the only mandated body to organise the Hajj.
Mr Frimpong argued that the NHC was able to organise a successful Hajj in the 2005/6 Hajj barely three months after its formation.
He promised to ensure transparency, accountability and best practice in the organisation of this year’s Hajj.
He said representatives of the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), the Customs, Excise and Preventive Service(CEPS), the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) and the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) were on the National Hajj Council.
He noted that the NHC would not abdicate its responsibility towards the 499 pilgrims who could not go on the 2006/2007 Hajj and would therefore like those affected to provide the council with the necessary information so that they could begin the process of addressing their case.
Mr Frimpong said the NHC would also support any effort that would find a redress for all those affected by the 2007/2008 Hajj failure, if the affected persons would provide information about themselves to enable them to take up the matter with the relevant authorities and key persons.
The Hajj fare package, which is an increase of $699 over that of last year, covers accommodation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, transportation, airfare, health care, education and miscellaneous expenses.
Mr Frimpong, who announced the package at a press conference in Accra on Friday, said the increase in the Hajj fare was necessitated by the soaring global fuel price, which is a major component in determining the cost of air ticket, especially for the Hajj.
Besides, he said, massive housing demolition work being undertaken in and around the Haram (Holy Mosque) in Mecca — the central area of the performance of Hajj — had contributed to the rise in the cost of accommodation.
However, Mr Frimpong said there were some favourable developments which had brought about the consideration by the government in assigning a Saudi designation to a local private airline operator, Antrak Air, to enable it to fly Accra-Jeddah and therefore carry out Hajj flights for Ghanaian pilgrims this year.
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