September 15, 2008 pg 3
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE World Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB) and other financiers are jointly financing the Ghana Energy Development and Access Project with $94.5 million for the next five years towards the expansion and rehabilitation of Electricity Company of Ghana’s network.
A further $75 million has been allocated for rural electrification. The government is also supporting the ECG’s investment projects with GH¢55 million from this year’s budget.
The Managing Director of ECG, Mr Jude O. Adu-Amankwah, who announced this at a meeting with editors in Accra last Friday, said the projects were part of strategies to revamp the ECG’s network infrastructure in order to improve upon the quality and reliability of power supply in ECG operational areas.
He mentioned the replacement of all credit meters with pre-paid meters in Accra and all towns in the next three years, the upgrading of transmission and distribution networks to provide firm capacity and alternative sources of supply as some of the strategies adopted to overcome ECG’s technical challenges.
Mr Adu-Amankwah said the company would install shunt capacitor banks at primary substations to improve system voltages and reduce technical losses, and also introduce live line work to reduce customer lost hours during fault resolution and restoration.
He said as a way of modernising ECG’s operations, the company would install facilities to ensure effective voice and data transfer and networking of its vending stations and computerise the company’s network database.
Mr Adu-Amankwah said the ECG was currently implementing investment projects aimed at expanding and rehabilitating its sub transmission and distribution network.
He said the projects included the construction of a third BSP in Accra, a second BSP in Kumasi and the upgrade of Mallam BSP, the provision of switching stations at strategic locations, namely Jasikan, Bogoso, Dodowa, Akuse, Kasoa and Bunso.
Besides, Mr Adu-Amankwah said, the ECG was funding the installation of shunt capacitor banks at selected primary substations, the implementation of High Voltage Distribution System in Accra and injection of primary and secondary substations in all the regions.
Again, he said under the distribution engineering and geographical information systems, the project would enable ECG to computerise its network and customer database and improve trouble call and response to faults and ECG network asset management.
Mr Adu-Amankwah said the projects would address ECG’s technical and commercial challenges and overturn the weakening financial position of the company.
He said the projects were expected to reduce the system loss by one per cent every year and on the average reduce by 20 hours of annual unplanned outages per customer per year.
“When these results are achieved, the company would have substantially achieved its desire to provide quality electricity supply to its customers and also attain international benchmarks set by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) for ECG over the next five years,” he stressed.
Mr Adu-Amankwah mentioned the construction of four primary substations and rehabilitation of some existing ones in Accra and Kumasi, the construction of one primary substation at Ofankor and the replacement of obsolete and faulty equipment in Accra, Ho and Tema as some of the completed investment projects.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
'Abstain from casual sex'
September 12, 2008 pg 21
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
SPEAKERS at a seminar on HIV/AIDS have urged the youth to abstain from casual sex to avoid contracting sexually transmitted diseases, including the dreaded HIV/AIDS.
They rather urged them to focus on their studies since that was the only way they could become responsible citizens and contribute to the development of their respective communities.
A Principal Field Officer on HIV/AIDS, Mrs Sally Agyeman, the Chairman of NAF Ghana, Mr William Ayisu, and an HIV/AIDS advocate, Mr Chris Boadi, who made the call, were speaking at the seminar at Nsawam in the Akuapem South District in the Eastern Region.
Sungtaaba Integrated Development Association (SIDA), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), organised the seminar to educate the youth on the dangers of HIV/AIDS and how to avoid contracting the disease.
Mrs Agyeman stressed the need for the youth to abstain from unprotected sex, and instead engage in physical exercises and other recreational activities.
She implored them to stay away from hard drugs, including alcohol, marijuana and cocaine since they could incite them to engage in casual sex.
Mrs Agyeman also warned the youth against watching pornographic films and magazines.
She exhorted married couples to be faithful to their partners or use condoms when they were not sure of their partners.
For his part, Mr Ayisu urged young ladies not to go in for older men as a measure of making money since such men could be carriers of HIV .
Mr Boadi charged the youth to play complementary roles in HIV/AIDS prevention by embarking on floats to educate their colleagues on the dangers of the disease and its prevention.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
SPEAKERS at a seminar on HIV/AIDS have urged the youth to abstain from casual sex to avoid contracting sexually transmitted diseases, including the dreaded HIV/AIDS.
They rather urged them to focus on their studies since that was the only way they could become responsible citizens and contribute to the development of their respective communities.
A Principal Field Officer on HIV/AIDS, Mrs Sally Agyeman, the Chairman of NAF Ghana, Mr William Ayisu, and an HIV/AIDS advocate, Mr Chris Boadi, who made the call, were speaking at the seminar at Nsawam in the Akuapem South District in the Eastern Region.
Sungtaaba Integrated Development Association (SIDA), a non-governmental organisation (NGO), organised the seminar to educate the youth on the dangers of HIV/AIDS and how to avoid contracting the disease.
Mrs Agyeman stressed the need for the youth to abstain from unprotected sex, and instead engage in physical exercises and other recreational activities.
She implored them to stay away from hard drugs, including alcohol, marijuana and cocaine since they could incite them to engage in casual sex.
Mrs Agyeman also warned the youth against watching pornographic films and magazines.
She exhorted married couples to be faithful to their partners or use condoms when they were not sure of their partners.
For his part, Mr Ayisu urged young ladies not to go in for older men as a measure of making money since such men could be carriers of HIV .
Mr Boadi charged the youth to play complementary roles in HIV/AIDS prevention by embarking on floats to educate their colleagues on the dangers of the disease and its prevention.
Friday, September 12, 2008
"Muslim chiefs, opinion leaders must not be partisan'
September 12, 2008 pg 17
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
A Research fellow at the Ghana Muslim Academy (GMA), Alhaji Adam Yunus, has advised Muslim chiefs and opinion leaders against openly declaring their support for political parties.
“Chiefs and opinion leaders should try and be non-partisan in their interactions with political parties and be extra careful not to be tagged or seen to be supporting a particular political party,” he stressed.
Alhaji Yunus was delivering a paper on “Towards Peaceful Election 2008 — The Role of the Muslim Ummah,” at the 9th annual Mujahid Ramadan lectures organised by the GMA in Accra.
The lectures highlighted the socio-economic and political challenges of the Muslim community, with the view to finding remedies for them.
Alhaji Yunus spoke against a decision by some chiefs to visit some political leaders to either thank them or declare their support for them.
“Chiefs should wait for politicians to rather come to them, and not they chasing the politicians,” he demanded of the chiefs.
Alhaji Yunus urged Ghanaians to “respect and appreciate” their political differences, and referred to Suratul Hujurat (Qur’an Chapter 49), which requires of Muslims to handle their own affairs and live together by respecting each other’s views.
He said the chapter made it clear that opinions would certainly vary and could never be the same, and indicated that verse 11 says that “insults, speaking evil of others and generally defaming others are things considered as sin. Hence, those attitudes should be avoided”.
Alhaji Yunus stressed that Islamic law actually considered defamation as something sinful and criminal, and said insulting and fighting one another because they belonged to different political parties were un-Islamic and non-political.
“Once we have accepted to practise multi-party democracy, we ought to have political differences, otherwise there is no democracy,” he said.
Alhaji Yunus advised the youth to control their youthful exuberance and not allow themselves to be used by politicians to visit mayhem on their political opponents.
He, therefore, stressed the need for Imams to preach to their congregations the need to participate positively in the country’s political process and always ensure a peaceful atmosphere.
Alhaji Yunus asked Muslims to dedicate this month of Ramadan to prayers for Allah to grant Ghana a peaceful, free and fair election and establish leadership that would bring peace and security to the nation.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
A Research fellow at the Ghana Muslim Academy (GMA), Alhaji Adam Yunus, has advised Muslim chiefs and opinion leaders against openly declaring their support for political parties.
“Chiefs and opinion leaders should try and be non-partisan in their interactions with political parties and be extra careful not to be tagged or seen to be supporting a particular political party,” he stressed.
Alhaji Yunus was delivering a paper on “Towards Peaceful Election 2008 — The Role of the Muslim Ummah,” at the 9th annual Mujahid Ramadan lectures organised by the GMA in Accra.
The lectures highlighted the socio-economic and political challenges of the Muslim community, with the view to finding remedies for them.
Alhaji Yunus spoke against a decision by some chiefs to visit some political leaders to either thank them or declare their support for them.
“Chiefs should wait for politicians to rather come to them, and not they chasing the politicians,” he demanded of the chiefs.
Alhaji Yunus urged Ghanaians to “respect and appreciate” their political differences, and referred to Suratul Hujurat (Qur’an Chapter 49), which requires of Muslims to handle their own affairs and live together by respecting each other’s views.
He said the chapter made it clear that opinions would certainly vary and could never be the same, and indicated that verse 11 says that “insults, speaking evil of others and generally defaming others are things considered as sin. Hence, those attitudes should be avoided”.
Alhaji Yunus stressed that Islamic law actually considered defamation as something sinful and criminal, and said insulting and fighting one another because they belonged to different political parties were un-Islamic and non-political.
“Once we have accepted to practise multi-party democracy, we ought to have political differences, otherwise there is no democracy,” he said.
Alhaji Yunus advised the youth to control their youthful exuberance and not allow themselves to be used by politicians to visit mayhem on their political opponents.
He, therefore, stressed the need for Imams to preach to their congregations the need to participate positively in the country’s political process and always ensure a peaceful atmosphere.
Alhaji Yunus asked Muslims to dedicate this month of Ramadan to prayers for Allah to grant Ghana a peaceful, free and fair election and establish leadership that would bring peace and security to the nation.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Report on rights violation under study
September 11, 2008 pg 34
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
STAKEHOLDERS in the country’s mining industry are strategising on how to protect the rights of both people in mining communities and operators of big mining concessions.
Consequently, the stakeholders, namely the Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines, the Minerals Commission, the Ghana Chamber of Mines and mining concessions have come out with a report containing recommendations on how to stop the violations of the rights of the people and operators.
The Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines, Mr Charles Wereko, who made this known to the Daily Graphic, said the report was being studied by the stakeholders in preparation for possible actions.
He was reacting to the State of Human Rights in Mining Communities in Ghana 2008 report, which indicated that the rights of people in mining areas are being violated in Ghana. The report, published by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), cited widespread pollution of water bodies by mining companies, deprivation and loss of livelihood as a result of mining and excesses by state security agencies as some of the human rights violations.
Mr Wereko did not give details of the report but indicated that the recommendations sought to address the concerns of both indigenes of mining areas and owners of big concessions.
According to him, there had been an upsurge of encroachment on the concessions of big mining companies by small illegal miners.
He also noted that some of the water bodies in mining communities had been polluted, and indicated that some of the allegations had to be proved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Mr Wereko indicated that the operators of mining concessions employed the services of security agencies or private security guards to guard their concessions.
He said such security guards prevented illegal miners from straying to the concessions, which the illegal miners complained of as violation of their rights.
Nonetheless, Mr Wereko said so far as the people were Ghanaians, the government was committed to protecting their rights by ensuring that they were not being harassed by the security guards.
Besides, he said, the Minerals Commission was also considering the possibility of reaching an agreement with big mining concessions to cede some part of their concessions that they were not mining to small-scale mining companies.
“They are considering having enclaves within the concessions where the small-scale miners can operate,” he stressed.
In that regard, he said the Minerals Commission had asked small-scale mining companies to register their companies with the Commission as a way of regularising their operations.
However, he said, very few companies had so far registered with the Commission, thus making attempts at helping the small-scale miners difficult.
According to Mr Wereko, the stakeholders wanted to “come out with a broad strategy to ensure that the concession of large companies are not encroached on, and also look at the rights of illegal miners”.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
STAKEHOLDERS in the country’s mining industry are strategising on how to protect the rights of both people in mining communities and operators of big mining concessions.
Consequently, the stakeholders, namely the Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines, the Minerals Commission, the Ghana Chamber of Mines and mining concessions have come out with a report containing recommendations on how to stop the violations of the rights of the people and operators.
The Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Lands, Forestry and Mines, Mr Charles Wereko, who made this known to the Daily Graphic, said the report was being studied by the stakeholders in preparation for possible actions.
He was reacting to the State of Human Rights in Mining Communities in Ghana 2008 report, which indicated that the rights of people in mining areas are being violated in Ghana. The report, published by the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), cited widespread pollution of water bodies by mining companies, deprivation and loss of livelihood as a result of mining and excesses by state security agencies as some of the human rights violations.
Mr Wereko did not give details of the report but indicated that the recommendations sought to address the concerns of both indigenes of mining areas and owners of big concessions.
According to him, there had been an upsurge of encroachment on the concessions of big mining companies by small illegal miners.
He also noted that some of the water bodies in mining communities had been polluted, and indicated that some of the allegations had to be proved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Mr Wereko indicated that the operators of mining concessions employed the services of security agencies or private security guards to guard their concessions.
He said such security guards prevented illegal miners from straying to the concessions, which the illegal miners complained of as violation of their rights.
Nonetheless, Mr Wereko said so far as the people were Ghanaians, the government was committed to protecting their rights by ensuring that they were not being harassed by the security guards.
Besides, he said, the Minerals Commission was also considering the possibility of reaching an agreement with big mining concessions to cede some part of their concessions that they were not mining to small-scale mining companies.
“They are considering having enclaves within the concessions where the small-scale miners can operate,” he stressed.
In that regard, he said the Minerals Commission had asked small-scale mining companies to register their companies with the Commission as a way of regularising their operations.
However, he said, very few companies had so far registered with the Commission, thus making attempts at helping the small-scale miners difficult.
According to Mr Wereko, the stakeholders wanted to “come out with a broad strategy to ensure that the concession of large companies are not encroached on, and also look at the rights of illegal miners”.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Interim Hajj C'ttee signs pact with Egypt Air
September 10, 2008 pg 14
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Interim Hajj Management Committee (IHMC) has signed a contract with Egypt Air to lift the expected 3,000 Ghanaian pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform this year’s pilgrimage (Hajj).
Under the agreement, Egypt Air will run eight charter flights with each flight conveying 264 passengers.
The rest of the prospective pilgrims will go on regular flights.
Egypt Air is giving 40 (kilogrammes) free luggage to pilgrims and between five and 10 kilogrammes free hand luggage.
The Chairman of the IHMC, Alhaji Limuna Mohammed Muniru, signed on behalf of the committee while the District Manager of Egypt Air, Mr Maher Hussein, signed on behalf of Egyptair.
Present at the signing ceremony were representatives of the Ghana Hajj Agents Association.
Alhaji Muniru said the committee entered into the contract with Egypt Air because it was a known airline with a record of conveying pilgrims to and from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“Egypt Air is one of the reliable airlines when it comes to Hajj operations. We have tested them and know that they have the capacity,” he stressed.
He said in the event of any disappointment, members of the IHMC could easily trace the offices of Egypt Air.
According to Alhaji Muniru, the committee had invited several airlines for negotiation and that it was Egypt Air that responded and indicated its readiness to go with charter and regular flights.
He said members of the committee and managers of Egypt Air would have operational meetings to come out with the specific dates and time for departure and the return journey.
He said the committee would also meet with the Airport Company and the Ghana Civil Aviation to agree on the modalities for the check-ins.
Mr Hussein said he had learnt of the suffering that Ghanaian pilgrims went through, and that he had always entertained the idea of helping them.
He gave the assurance that Egypt Air would be responsible and offer good service to the prospective pilgrims.
“We will not leave anything by accident. Everything is planned to make everyone happy,” Mr Hussein stressed.
Hajj organisation in Ghana has faced difficulty with flight arrangements, with last year’s arrangement described as the worst ever. The prospective pilgrims waited at the Aviation Social Centre for about 11 days awaiting the arrival of flights.
The flights arrived later, which compelled the government to appeal to the authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the extension of arrival of Ghanaian pilgrims at the Jeddah Airport.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Interim Hajj Management Committee (IHMC) has signed a contract with Egypt Air to lift the expected 3,000 Ghanaian pilgrims to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to perform this year’s pilgrimage (Hajj).
Under the agreement, Egypt Air will run eight charter flights with each flight conveying 264 passengers.
The rest of the prospective pilgrims will go on regular flights.
Egypt Air is giving 40 (kilogrammes) free luggage to pilgrims and between five and 10 kilogrammes free hand luggage.
The Chairman of the IHMC, Alhaji Limuna Mohammed Muniru, signed on behalf of the committee while the District Manager of Egypt Air, Mr Maher Hussein, signed on behalf of Egyptair.
Present at the signing ceremony were representatives of the Ghana Hajj Agents Association.
Alhaji Muniru said the committee entered into the contract with Egypt Air because it was a known airline with a record of conveying pilgrims to and from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
“Egypt Air is one of the reliable airlines when it comes to Hajj operations. We have tested them and know that they have the capacity,” he stressed.
He said in the event of any disappointment, members of the IHMC could easily trace the offices of Egypt Air.
According to Alhaji Muniru, the committee had invited several airlines for negotiation and that it was Egypt Air that responded and indicated its readiness to go with charter and regular flights.
He said members of the committee and managers of Egypt Air would have operational meetings to come out with the specific dates and time for departure and the return journey.
He said the committee would also meet with the Airport Company and the Ghana Civil Aviation to agree on the modalities for the check-ins.
Mr Hussein said he had learnt of the suffering that Ghanaian pilgrims went through, and that he had always entertained the idea of helping them.
He gave the assurance that Egypt Air would be responsible and offer good service to the prospective pilgrims.
“We will not leave anything by accident. Everything is planned to make everyone happy,” Mr Hussein stressed.
Hajj organisation in Ghana has faced difficulty with flight arrangements, with last year’s arrangement described as the worst ever. The prospective pilgrims waited at the Aviation Social Centre for about 11 days awaiting the arrival of flights.
The flights arrived later, which compelled the government to appeal to the authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the extension of arrival of Ghanaian pilgrims at the Jeddah Airport.
Case of pair trawling at Apam-2 fined $48,000
September 10, 2008 Front Page
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Ministry of Fisheries yesterday declared ‘war’ on trawlers that stray into Ghanaian waters and promised that the full force of the law will be applied against those that also engage in pair trawling.
To demonstrate its resolve to deal with the issue, which has negatively affected the local fishing industry, the ministry announced that owners of the two trawlers that were caught by the Ghana Navy engaging in pair trawling at Apam last week, had been fined $48,000, after admitting the offence.
It further announced that two more trawlers were being investigated by the national security for engaging in illegal fishing in the country’s waters.
The Minister of Fisheries, Mrs Gladys Asmah, who was speaking at a press conference in Accra, said the $48,000 fine was agreed to by a committee made up of representatives of the Attorney General’s Department, the Ghana Navy and the Ministry of Fisheries.
She commended the Ghana Navy for standing up to the challenge in effecting the arrests and promised that 30 per cent of the $48,000 fine would be paid to the Navy while the remaining would go into the internally-generated fund of the Ministry of Fisheries.
She said the money would be used to promote the fishing industry in terms of infrastructure development.
Mrs Asmah warned that foreign trawlers that fished in Ghanaian waters without the appropriate licences would face the full rigours of the law if caught.
Section 116 of the Fisheries Act (625) of 2002 states that: “...where it is satisfied that a person has committed an offence under this Act (illegally fishing in the country’s waters), and the person has in writing admitted to having committed the offence and expressed willingness that the offence be so dealt with, compound the offence by accepting on behalf of the government from the person a sum of money of not less than the minimum penalty specified for the offence plus the fair market value of any fish caught illegally, and the sum when paid shall immediately be paid into the Fund”.
The minister stressed that never again would the government allow the country’s waters to be invaded by foreign fishing trawlers in disregard of the country’s laws and territorial integrity, and that everything would be done to deter foreign trawlers from straying into the country’s waters and consequently safeguard the country’s fishing industry.
Mrs Asmah denied claims that the fishing industry was collapsing and indicated that the government was laying the foundation for the growth of the industry in terms of infrastructure development.
For instance, she said, the government had secured a seven million euro fund under the Spanish Protocol for the construction of ice plants and refrigeration facilities in some fishing communities, beginning from next month.
She said the construction of the storage facilities was to “reduce post-harvest losses to enable the fishermen to sell their fish at competitive prices for them to make profit to better their lives”.
The beneficiary communities are Nyanyano, Kormantse/Abandze, both in the Central Region, Upper Prampram in the Greater Accra Region, and Half Assini, Shama and New Takoradi in the Western Region.
Besides, she said, funding for the two fishing harbours and 12 landing sites had been arranged and disbursement was about to be concluded for the sod to be cut for construction work to begin by the end of the year.
The communities benefitting from the projects are Elmina Fishing Harbour in the Central Region, James Town Fishing Harbour and Teshie in the Greater Accra Region, Axim and Dixcove Landing sites in the Western Region, Moree, Winneba, Gomoa Fetteh, Senya Bereku and Mumford in the Central Region and Ada, Dzemeni, Tapa Abotoase and Keta in the Volta Region.
Mrs Asmah said a Fishery School had been slated for construction at Mumford, and indicated that the school would train students, both males and females, in the art of fishing, fish storage and smoking, and net mending, among others.
“The 20 projects mentioned are not programmes being imagined but projects which have been planned for the better part of the last two years and they will surely see the light of day,” she stressed.
Earlier this month, 13 Chinese and 23 Ghanaians on board two fishing vessels were arrested near Apam in the Central Region by the Western Naval Command for engaging in pair trawling without licence.
The vessels are Maache One and Maache Two owned by Nebula International Limited, a company registered at Tema. The vessels were also found fishing below the 30-metre depth, eight nautical miles from the shore, which is prohibited by law.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Ministry of Fisheries yesterday declared ‘war’ on trawlers that stray into Ghanaian waters and promised that the full force of the law will be applied against those that also engage in pair trawling.
To demonstrate its resolve to deal with the issue, which has negatively affected the local fishing industry, the ministry announced that owners of the two trawlers that were caught by the Ghana Navy engaging in pair trawling at Apam last week, had been fined $48,000, after admitting the offence.
It further announced that two more trawlers were being investigated by the national security for engaging in illegal fishing in the country’s waters.
The Minister of Fisheries, Mrs Gladys Asmah, who was speaking at a press conference in Accra, said the $48,000 fine was agreed to by a committee made up of representatives of the Attorney General’s Department, the Ghana Navy and the Ministry of Fisheries.
She commended the Ghana Navy for standing up to the challenge in effecting the arrests and promised that 30 per cent of the $48,000 fine would be paid to the Navy while the remaining would go into the internally-generated fund of the Ministry of Fisheries.
She said the money would be used to promote the fishing industry in terms of infrastructure development.
Mrs Asmah warned that foreign trawlers that fished in Ghanaian waters without the appropriate licences would face the full rigours of the law if caught.
Section 116 of the Fisheries Act (625) of 2002 states that: “...where it is satisfied that a person has committed an offence under this Act (illegally fishing in the country’s waters), and the person has in writing admitted to having committed the offence and expressed willingness that the offence be so dealt with, compound the offence by accepting on behalf of the government from the person a sum of money of not less than the minimum penalty specified for the offence plus the fair market value of any fish caught illegally, and the sum when paid shall immediately be paid into the Fund”.
The minister stressed that never again would the government allow the country’s waters to be invaded by foreign fishing trawlers in disregard of the country’s laws and territorial integrity, and that everything would be done to deter foreign trawlers from straying into the country’s waters and consequently safeguard the country’s fishing industry.
Mrs Asmah denied claims that the fishing industry was collapsing and indicated that the government was laying the foundation for the growth of the industry in terms of infrastructure development.
For instance, she said, the government had secured a seven million euro fund under the Spanish Protocol for the construction of ice plants and refrigeration facilities in some fishing communities, beginning from next month.
She said the construction of the storage facilities was to “reduce post-harvest losses to enable the fishermen to sell their fish at competitive prices for them to make profit to better their lives”.
The beneficiary communities are Nyanyano, Kormantse/Abandze, both in the Central Region, Upper Prampram in the Greater Accra Region, and Half Assini, Shama and New Takoradi in the Western Region.
Besides, she said, funding for the two fishing harbours and 12 landing sites had been arranged and disbursement was about to be concluded for the sod to be cut for construction work to begin by the end of the year.
The communities benefitting from the projects are Elmina Fishing Harbour in the Central Region, James Town Fishing Harbour and Teshie in the Greater Accra Region, Axim and Dixcove Landing sites in the Western Region, Moree, Winneba, Gomoa Fetteh, Senya Bereku and Mumford in the Central Region and Ada, Dzemeni, Tapa Abotoase and Keta in the Volta Region.
Mrs Asmah said a Fishery School had been slated for construction at Mumford, and indicated that the school would train students, both males and females, in the art of fishing, fish storage and smoking, and net mending, among others.
“The 20 projects mentioned are not programmes being imagined but projects which have been planned for the better part of the last two years and they will surely see the light of day,” she stressed.
Earlier this month, 13 Chinese and 23 Ghanaians on board two fishing vessels were arrested near Apam in the Central Region by the Western Naval Command for engaging in pair trawling without licence.
The vessels are Maache One and Maache Two owned by Nebula International Limited, a company registered at Tema. The vessels were also found fishing below the 30-metre depth, eight nautical miles from the shore, which is prohibited by law.
Don't be mislead into dangerous activities
September 8, 2008 Centre Spread
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Chairman of Council of the University of Ghana, Legon, Mr Tony Oteng-Gyasi, has cautioned the youth, especially students, against being allowed to be used by politicians in furtherance of “illegal and dangerous electoral activity” such as violence in any form and unlawful demonstrations in the December 7 general election.
He said too often, the youth had been misled into dangerous activities during elections, with some of them losing their limbs or lives in the process “only to find the so-called leaders and instigators of the opposing factions cosying up to one another later on with scant memory of the pain and anguish they inflicted on their young supporters”.
Mr Oteng-Gyasi was speaking at the 60th anniversary matriculation of the University of Ghana, Legon, at the weekend.
Out of the 22,865 applications, 11,700 were admitted to pursue various programmes. At the postgraduate level, 1,352 students gained admission, while 1,739 were admitted to the Distance Learning Programme. The Accra City Campus registered 1,479 students.
A Bachelor of Science Administration (BSc. Admin.) student, Ms Monica Mawuena Kukah, who signed the matricula??? on behalf of her colleagues, asked the university to focus more on career-oriented programmes.
In an apparent reference to recent political trouble in the northern part of the country, Mr Oteng-Gyasi urged the youth to rather involve themselves in legitimate electoral activity, since those selfish politicians only inflicted pain on them by prodding them on to indulge in all manner of unlawful deeds.
“For your sake, and the sake of the parents and guardians who have sacrificed in order for you to obtain university education, and for the sake of the taxpayers of this country whose taxes enable you to study here, please, do not become pawns in anyone’s political game”, he demanded of the youth.
He again reminded the youth that the country needed them in more important roles than as “electoral violence cannon fodder”.
Welcoming the students on campus, Mr Oteng-Gyasi asked them to enjoy the euphoria of being in the university, but asked them to settle down as soon as possible and be serious with their studies.
“If your neglect your studies, you create for yourself a situation in which you might be tempted to cheat in examination or take part in illegal activity, hoping to postpone the examination,” he said.
“Such action could easily jeopardise your future. Do not be tempted. Instead, use your time profitably,” he stressed.
Mr Oteng-Gyasi reminded the students that they were the future leaders, and the university was meant to train them into adulthood.
He also advised the students to observe the rules and regulations governing the university, especially the rules governing examinations and any other academic papers.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof C. N. B. Tagoe, said the university was once again faced with a ‘painful task’ of having to turn down the applications of many otherwise qualified applicants, due to constraints on facilities and staff.
He said the Distance Education Programme, which started last year, was thriving and attracting more and more applications.
Prof Tagoe said the university had admitted 153 students from less-endowed schools as listed by the Ghana Education Service (GES), and indicated that those students were exempted from the payment of the academic facility user fees.
He said the Students Financial Aid Office, established in the 2005/6 academic year to assist brilliant, needy students in their academic pursuit, has since then given aid to 550 students.
He announced the institution of three new scholarships in the university — the Education Pathways International (USA), All Nations Education Scholarships (USA) and Tertiary Education Scholarship Trust (TEST for Ghana) (Oxford).
Prof. Tagoe said past years had seen efforts at expansion and improvement in academic and residential facilities, and said that the Law Faculty, the Physics Laboratory and the Balme Library’s extensions were close to completion.
Story: Musah Yahaya Jafaru
THE Chairman of Council of the University of Ghana, Legon, Mr Tony Oteng-Gyasi, has cautioned the youth, especially students, against being allowed to be used by politicians in furtherance of “illegal and dangerous electoral activity” such as violence in any form and unlawful demonstrations in the December 7 general election.
He said too often, the youth had been misled into dangerous activities during elections, with some of them losing their limbs or lives in the process “only to find the so-called leaders and instigators of the opposing factions cosying up to one another later on with scant memory of the pain and anguish they inflicted on their young supporters”.
Mr Oteng-Gyasi was speaking at the 60th anniversary matriculation of the University of Ghana, Legon, at the weekend.
Out of the 22,865 applications, 11,700 were admitted to pursue various programmes. At the postgraduate level, 1,352 students gained admission, while 1,739 were admitted to the Distance Learning Programme. The Accra City Campus registered 1,479 students.
A Bachelor of Science Administration (BSc. Admin.) student, Ms Monica Mawuena Kukah, who signed the matricula??? on behalf of her colleagues, asked the university to focus more on career-oriented programmes.
In an apparent reference to recent political trouble in the northern part of the country, Mr Oteng-Gyasi urged the youth to rather involve themselves in legitimate electoral activity, since those selfish politicians only inflicted pain on them by prodding them on to indulge in all manner of unlawful deeds.
“For your sake, and the sake of the parents and guardians who have sacrificed in order for you to obtain university education, and for the sake of the taxpayers of this country whose taxes enable you to study here, please, do not become pawns in anyone’s political game”, he demanded of the youth.
He again reminded the youth that the country needed them in more important roles than as “electoral violence cannon fodder”.
Welcoming the students on campus, Mr Oteng-Gyasi asked them to enjoy the euphoria of being in the university, but asked them to settle down as soon as possible and be serious with their studies.
“If your neglect your studies, you create for yourself a situation in which you might be tempted to cheat in examination or take part in illegal activity, hoping to postpone the examination,” he said.
“Such action could easily jeopardise your future. Do not be tempted. Instead, use your time profitably,” he stressed.
Mr Oteng-Gyasi reminded the students that they were the future leaders, and the university was meant to train them into adulthood.
He also advised the students to observe the rules and regulations governing the university, especially the rules governing examinations and any other academic papers.
The Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof C. N. B. Tagoe, said the university was once again faced with a ‘painful task’ of having to turn down the applications of many otherwise qualified applicants, due to constraints on facilities and staff.
He said the Distance Education Programme, which started last year, was thriving and attracting more and more applications.
Prof Tagoe said the university had admitted 153 students from less-endowed schools as listed by the Ghana Education Service (GES), and indicated that those students were exempted from the payment of the academic facility user fees.
He said the Students Financial Aid Office, established in the 2005/6 academic year to assist brilliant, needy students in their academic pursuit, has since then given aid to 550 students.
He announced the institution of three new scholarships in the university — the Education Pathways International (USA), All Nations Education Scholarships (USA) and Tertiary Education Scholarship Trust (TEST for Ghana) (Oxford).
Prof. Tagoe said past years had seen efforts at expansion and improvement in academic and residential facilities, and said that the Law Faculty, the Physics Laboratory and the Balme Library’s extensions were close to completion.
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