Story: Michael Donkor
THE new $50-million Presidential Palace at the Flagstaff House will be ready nine months before the inauguration of the next President of Ghana.
The manager of the project, Mr Ashfaque Husein of Shapoorji Pallonji, confirmed to the Daily Graphic yesterday that the facility would be ready for habitation and handed over to the government in April next year.
That is nine clear months before the inauguration of the next President, an event scheduled for January 7, 2009.
A visit to the project site revealed that 90 per cent of the work has been completed and the workers were giving finishing touches to the Very Important Personality (VIP) areas, interior decorations, villa furnishing, landscaping and road works.
Some workers were also spotted busily laying tiles bearing the Adinkra and Gye Nyame symbols on the walls of the presidential office, while the roads at the palace were being constructed
The central airconditioners were being fixed, while the roofing for the old presidential palace was being changed.
At the Presidential Villa, the workers were plastering the walls and laying some blocks.
Mr Husein said when completed, the palace would comprise the President’s office, the Vice-President’s office and offices for their supporting staff.
He said it would also have a banquet hall and an underground water tank, while the old Presidential Villa would be turned into a museum.
Mr Husein said there would be a commercial building which would be used for other activities such as banking services.
He noted that what might delay the completion of work on the project might be the relocation of some personnel of the security services who were housed in some buildings there.
Mr Husein explained that the buildings were to be pulled down for landscaping.
He said landscaping took time because it involved the planting of green grass, which took time to grow.
He appealed to the authorities to relocate the personnel occupying those buildings quickly to enable the workers to move into the landscaping aspect.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Call on security agencies to remain vigilant(Page 14)
Story: Michael Donkor & Victor Kwawukume, Ho
THE Minister of National Security, Mr Francis Poku, has charged security agencies to remain alert and be ready to ward off attempts by deviant persons to forment trouble as the nation enters 2008.
Mr Poku observed that next year would be a challenging year as the much-acclaimed peaceful status of the country would be rigorously put to test, saying “the security agencies must remain poised for protecting and sustaining the image of the country”.
He said the Africa Cup of Nations tournament, during which 16 teams, together with thousands of supporters are expected in the country, in addition to the United Trade Congress, also scheduled for Ghana during which 40 Heads of State, in addition to 5,000 delegates would be attending, posed a very formidable task which the security must deal with.
“We have a duty to keep the country peaceful so as to receive all these visitors and to ensure that all these activities go on successfully in an atmosphere of absolute peace,” he stressed.
Mr Francis Poku was addressing this year’s West African Soldiers Social Activity (WASSA) of the 66 Artillery Regiment in Ho over the weekend. It was on the theme “66 Artillery Regiment: A Partner in National Development”.
Mr Poku observed a disturbing trend where non-resident indigenes of some towns and villages went to their areas using their wealth in formenting trouble.
According to him, such people used their wealth to distort the history of their localities, re-invent the history of their communities so that they could become chiefs.
He called on the security agencies to be wary of such persons and be prepared to nip their intents in the bud before they generated any conflict, thereby engendering insecurity in the country.
He, however, advised the rich ones to use their wealth to promote the development of their communities instead of creating tension.
Mr Poku commended the 66 Artillery Regiment for their immense contribution to national security and enhancement of the image of the Ghana Army in international operations.
He said they had exhibited good neighbourliness and enhanced civil-military relations, adding that their principles must be emulated by all.
Mr Poku also showed gratitude to the wives and family of the soldiers for the supportive roles they had played and continued to play in the success stories of the regiment.
The Commanding Officer of the 66 Artillery Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Emmanuel Kotia, speaking on the theme, said the regiment had continued to capture civil-military relations as an important focus.
“I am happy to announce that there exists a good relationship between the military and the civil society in the Ho Municipality and the region as a whole,” he recounted.
He said their services were more society-oriented, and that such facilities in the barracks as schools and playing fields continued to be open to civilians. He said that had helped to strengthen and develop a good working relation in the community.
“I, therefore, wish to call on the civil society and the population as a whole to see the military as partners in development and not as agents of destruction. A solid and sustained civilian-military relations are, therefore, an important ingredient to good governance,” he emphasised.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Dzamesi, praised the preparedness and the prompt response of the regiment any time it was called upon to act.
He also commended the role it played in the recent clashes at Anloga, and pledged the continued assistance of the Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council (VRCC) to enhance the output of the regiment.
THE Minister of National Security, Mr Francis Poku, has charged security agencies to remain alert and be ready to ward off attempts by deviant persons to forment trouble as the nation enters 2008.
Mr Poku observed that next year would be a challenging year as the much-acclaimed peaceful status of the country would be rigorously put to test, saying “the security agencies must remain poised for protecting and sustaining the image of the country”.
He said the Africa Cup of Nations tournament, during which 16 teams, together with thousands of supporters are expected in the country, in addition to the United Trade Congress, also scheduled for Ghana during which 40 Heads of State, in addition to 5,000 delegates would be attending, posed a very formidable task which the security must deal with.
“We have a duty to keep the country peaceful so as to receive all these visitors and to ensure that all these activities go on successfully in an atmosphere of absolute peace,” he stressed.
Mr Francis Poku was addressing this year’s West African Soldiers Social Activity (WASSA) of the 66 Artillery Regiment in Ho over the weekend. It was on the theme “66 Artillery Regiment: A Partner in National Development”.
Mr Poku observed a disturbing trend where non-resident indigenes of some towns and villages went to their areas using their wealth in formenting trouble.
According to him, such people used their wealth to distort the history of their localities, re-invent the history of their communities so that they could become chiefs.
He called on the security agencies to be wary of such persons and be prepared to nip their intents in the bud before they generated any conflict, thereby engendering insecurity in the country.
He, however, advised the rich ones to use their wealth to promote the development of their communities instead of creating tension.
Mr Poku commended the 66 Artillery Regiment for their immense contribution to national security and enhancement of the image of the Ghana Army in international operations.
He said they had exhibited good neighbourliness and enhanced civil-military relations, adding that their principles must be emulated by all.
Mr Poku also showed gratitude to the wives and family of the soldiers for the supportive roles they had played and continued to play in the success stories of the regiment.
The Commanding Officer of the 66 Artillery Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel Emmanuel Kotia, speaking on the theme, said the regiment had continued to capture civil-military relations as an important focus.
“I am happy to announce that there exists a good relationship between the military and the civil society in the Ho Municipality and the region as a whole,” he recounted.
He said their services were more society-oriented, and that such facilities in the barracks as schools and playing fields continued to be open to civilians. He said that had helped to strengthen and develop a good working relation in the community.
“I, therefore, wish to call on the civil society and the population as a whole to see the military as partners in development and not as agents of destruction. A solid and sustained civilian-military relations are, therefore, an important ingredient to good governance,” he emphasised.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Dzamesi, praised the preparedness and the prompt response of the regiment any time it was called upon to act.
He also commended the role it played in the recent clashes at Anloga, and pledged the continued assistance of the Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council (VRCC) to enhance the output of the regiment.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Board to investigate Kamina Barracks shooting (Centre Spread)
Story: Michael Donkor
THE Military High Command is to set up a Board of Enquiry (BOD) to investigate the circumstances that led to the murder of Sergeant Stanley Afriyie of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) at the Kamina Barracks in Tamale last Tuesday. Although the police have arrested the suspect, Corporal Benjamin Mensah, the Director of the Public Relations Unit of the GAF, Col Wollanyo Nibo, said the military would use its internal mechanisms like the BOD to also investigate the matter.
He said the board was expected to make findings, opinions and recommendations to the Chief of the Defence Staff.
In an interview, Col Nibo said if found culpable of the offence, Corporal Mensah could be released from the GAF.
Meanwhile, the relatives of the late Sergeant Afriyie who sustained gunshot wounds during the incident have been flown to the 37 Military Hospital and they are responding to treatment.
Corporal Mensah went on a shooting spree and killed Sergeant Afriyie at the Kamina Barracks in Tamale. In the process, he seriously wounded the wife and daughter of Sergeant Afriyie.
He was apprehended by some residents of Zogyuri, near the barracks.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, sent shock waves through the hitherto serene military vicinity and surrounding communities.
A source at the barracks told the Daily Graphic that money could be the cause of Corporal Mensah’s action.
It was alleged that Sergeant Afriyie owed Corporal Mensah an undisclosed amount of money which had remained unpaid over a period.
According to the source, efforts by Corporal Mensah to retrieve his money had not been successful, resulting in a heated argument between them last Tuesday.
Some military officers described the incident as most unfortunate and an affront to the dictates of strict military regulations that guided the conduct of personnel and their families at the barracks.
Sergeant Afriyie’s body has been deposited at the morgue of the Tamale Regional Hospital awaiting autopsy.
THE Military High Command is to set up a Board of Enquiry (BOD) to investigate the circumstances that led to the murder of Sergeant Stanley Afriyie of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) at the Kamina Barracks in Tamale last Tuesday. Although the police have arrested the suspect, Corporal Benjamin Mensah, the Director of the Public Relations Unit of the GAF, Col Wollanyo Nibo, said the military would use its internal mechanisms like the BOD to also investigate the matter.
He said the board was expected to make findings, opinions and recommendations to the Chief of the Defence Staff.
In an interview, Col Nibo said if found culpable of the offence, Corporal Mensah could be released from the GAF.
Meanwhile, the relatives of the late Sergeant Afriyie who sustained gunshot wounds during the incident have been flown to the 37 Military Hospital and they are responding to treatment.
Corporal Mensah went on a shooting spree and killed Sergeant Afriyie at the Kamina Barracks in Tamale. In the process, he seriously wounded the wife and daughter of Sergeant Afriyie.
He was apprehended by some residents of Zogyuri, near the barracks.
The incident, which occurred on Tuesday, sent shock waves through the hitherto serene military vicinity and surrounding communities.
A source at the barracks told the Daily Graphic that money could be the cause of Corporal Mensah’s action.
It was alleged that Sergeant Afriyie owed Corporal Mensah an undisclosed amount of money which had remained unpaid over a period.
According to the source, efforts by Corporal Mensah to retrieve his money had not been successful, resulting in a heated argument between them last Tuesday.
Some military officers described the incident as most unfortunate and an affront to the dictates of strict military regulations that guided the conduct of personnel and their families at the barracks.
Sergeant Afriyie’s body has been deposited at the morgue of the Tamale Regional Hospital awaiting autopsy.
GWCL demolishes houses at Weija(29 November 2007)centre spread
Story: Charles Benoni Okine & Michael Donkor
HUNDREDS of residents of Weija yesterday looked on helplessly as bulldozers and cranes rumbled through buildings at the area in a mass demolition exercise by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL).
With some wailing and others dumbfounded, the affected families watched as their properties went down, barely 72 hours after the announcement by a combined team of the police and the military to reclaim land at the Weija Dam site from alleged squatters.
Under the supervision of heavily armed national security officials, the GWCL had marked out about 2,000 buildings sited within the catchment area of the Weija Dam.
At least three affected residents, including a male, who could not stand the agony of the exercise fell unconscious and had to be whisked away to a nearby clinic and then to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to be resuscitated.
Some of the affected persons wailed, others had their two hands on their heads in grief, while some were visibly shaken and looked traumatised.
Weija, once a peaceful town, has now become an area where residents live in fear and anxiety because they have no idea when the next set of buildings will be razed.
This is because portions of the area where the authorities initially agreed would be spared were not left out of the exercise, a situation which has intensified fear among the people, including the opinion leaders.
The exercise began minutes after the acting Chief, Nii Boafo Danyina Nse II, and elders of the area had completed a news conference, which was also attended by a large number of residents of the area, to calm the nerves of the anxious residents, some of whom had lived in the area for more than 10 years.
Also at the news conference were the Station Manager of the GWCL, Mr Michael Amuakwah, and the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, who also appealed for calm while the matter was looked into.
Unfortunately for the residents, immediately they came out of the hall, a large number of heavily armed security men emerged, together with the bulldozers, and headed towards the area earmarked for the exercise.
Ms Botchwey and the assembly member for the area, together with some of the elders of the area, followed up but their pleas for the residents to remove some of their belongings were not heeded.
The residents gathered behind the fence wall of the GWCL, with some screaming at the top of their voices for the authorities to allow them a few days to pack their belongings. But all their pleas did not yield any results.
Some of them agreed that they had built within the catchment area of the company but noted that they would be glad if they were allowed some time to pack out their movable property before the exercise started.
From far and near, they watched the bulldozers flatten what they had built with years of savings.
The Daily Graphic gathered that the exercise was scheduled to have started at dawn but because of the intervention of some elders and the MP, the security men who were stationed at the area at 4.00 a.m. had to leave.
However, further instruction from above compelled them to move back to the area to carry out their duty.
By press time yesterday, six fully completed houses had been completely razed, while several uncompleted ones were also being demolished.
There was no official from National Security to officially comment on the exercise but it was gathered that it would go on until all the houses marked had been razed.
Those affected stated that once the exercise had started, “it has to be completed”.
“We are watching,” they said, adding, “We know the big men who have their buildings here with us but although their properties also fall within the catchment area, they have not been marked and we are watching.”
“If National Security does not do demolish those buildings, we will do it for them because we will not allow ourselves to be cheated,” some of them said.
Some of the residents had alleged that one of the huge buildings sitting on top of a hill around where their properties were demolished belonged to the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheikh I.C. Quaye, and asked that “it should also go because all the buildings around it were marked”.
Earlier at the news conference, the MP had said the matter was being heard at high places and appealed for calm.
She said some of the buildings which were within the catchment area would not be spared but those quite farther away would be considered when all other negotiations had been completed.
“There are certain things I cannot say hear but I know this exercise will be given a human face,” she had assured the anxious residents.
The Immediate Past Assembly Member of the area and son of the late chief, Mr Daniel Sackey, described the demolition as a sign of disrespect and disregard for the chiefs and elders of Weija.
He said after agreeing to demolish only buildings that posed a threat to the dam, the demolition team went contrary to that.
Mr Sackey said the act was tantamount to undermining the peace and security that Weija had enjoyed, in the event throwing the town into confusion.
HUNDREDS of residents of Weija yesterday looked on helplessly as bulldozers and cranes rumbled through buildings at the area in a mass demolition exercise by the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL).
With some wailing and others dumbfounded, the affected families watched as their properties went down, barely 72 hours after the announcement by a combined team of the police and the military to reclaim land at the Weija Dam site from alleged squatters.
Under the supervision of heavily armed national security officials, the GWCL had marked out about 2,000 buildings sited within the catchment area of the Weija Dam.
At least three affected residents, including a male, who could not stand the agony of the exercise fell unconscious and had to be whisked away to a nearby clinic and then to the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital to be resuscitated.
Some of the affected persons wailed, others had their two hands on their heads in grief, while some were visibly shaken and looked traumatised.
Weija, once a peaceful town, has now become an area where residents live in fear and anxiety because they have no idea when the next set of buildings will be razed.
This is because portions of the area where the authorities initially agreed would be spared were not left out of the exercise, a situation which has intensified fear among the people, including the opinion leaders.
The exercise began minutes after the acting Chief, Nii Boafo Danyina Nse II, and elders of the area had completed a news conference, which was also attended by a large number of residents of the area, to calm the nerves of the anxious residents, some of whom had lived in the area for more than 10 years.
Also at the news conference were the Station Manager of the GWCL, Mr Michael Amuakwah, and the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Ms Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, who also appealed for calm while the matter was looked into.
Unfortunately for the residents, immediately they came out of the hall, a large number of heavily armed security men emerged, together with the bulldozers, and headed towards the area earmarked for the exercise.
Ms Botchwey and the assembly member for the area, together with some of the elders of the area, followed up but their pleas for the residents to remove some of their belongings were not heeded.
The residents gathered behind the fence wall of the GWCL, with some screaming at the top of their voices for the authorities to allow them a few days to pack their belongings. But all their pleas did not yield any results.
Some of them agreed that they had built within the catchment area of the company but noted that they would be glad if they were allowed some time to pack out their movable property before the exercise started.
From far and near, they watched the bulldozers flatten what they had built with years of savings.
The Daily Graphic gathered that the exercise was scheduled to have started at dawn but because of the intervention of some elders and the MP, the security men who were stationed at the area at 4.00 a.m. had to leave.
However, further instruction from above compelled them to move back to the area to carry out their duty.
By press time yesterday, six fully completed houses had been completely razed, while several uncompleted ones were also being demolished.
There was no official from National Security to officially comment on the exercise but it was gathered that it would go on until all the houses marked had been razed.
Those affected stated that once the exercise had started, “it has to be completed”.
“We are watching,” they said, adding, “We know the big men who have their buildings here with us but although their properties also fall within the catchment area, they have not been marked and we are watching.”
“If National Security does not do demolish those buildings, we will do it for them because we will not allow ourselves to be cheated,” some of them said.
Some of the residents had alleged that one of the huge buildings sitting on top of a hill around where their properties were demolished belonged to the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Sheikh I.C. Quaye, and asked that “it should also go because all the buildings around it were marked”.
Earlier at the news conference, the MP had said the matter was being heard at high places and appealed for calm.
She said some of the buildings which were within the catchment area would not be spared but those quite farther away would be considered when all other negotiations had been completed.
“There are certain things I cannot say hear but I know this exercise will be given a human face,” she had assured the anxious residents.
The Immediate Past Assembly Member of the area and son of the late chief, Mr Daniel Sackey, described the demolition as a sign of disrespect and disregard for the chiefs and elders of Weija.
He said after agreeing to demolish only buildings that posed a threat to the dam, the demolition team went contrary to that.
Mr Sackey said the act was tantamount to undermining the peace and security that Weija had enjoyed, in the event throwing the town into confusion.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Bid to save Weija Dam, War on Squatters, Military cum police operationearly next week (front page)November 24,2007
Story: Michael Donkor
Bulldozers, cranes, as well as a combined force of military and police personnel, are on stand-by for a special operation early next week to demolish illegal structures and flush out land guards and stone winners around the Weija Dam.
The Director of Police Public Relations, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwasi Ofori, said to speed up the process and attain “zero level of human casualty”, a recce had already been conducted by a team of security personnel which also surveyed the activities of land guards and stone winners around the dam.
He said the move had become necessary because the stone winners and land guards in the area had become adamant and refused to heed all warnings to stop their illegal activities.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, DSP Ofori said in spite of all the efforts by the police and other security agencies to curb the land guard canker, the phenomenon continued to fester, occasionally threatening the security of the state.
He said in recent times, the activities of land guards had trebled, putting lives and property in danger at the Weija Dam site.
He said through the use of land guards, many unauthorised structures had been put up close to the dam, while others had also resorted to the use of dynamite for quarrying there.
He said the situation posed a great danger to the dam, which supplied potable water to over two million people in and around Accra.
DSP Ofori said apart from the fact that the collapse of the dam would result in the erratic supply of potable water, it could also wash away and destroy many houses and property in parts of Accra.
He, therefore warned those carrying out such illegal acts to desist immediately because they would live to regret what was going to happen to them.
DSP Ofori said it was illegal for any group of persons to possess illegal weapons and use them for clandestine operations like land guarding, while those who registered their weapons and rented them out were also guilty of the same offence.
He said the activities of land guards had become a bother to residents and developers, hence the resolve of the security agencies to tackle them, including all those who financed, supplied and recruited land guards.
He said on the one hand many property had been destroyed, while on the other many lives had been lost as a result of the nefarious activities of land guards.
He said available data on land guard activities and their effects were very worrying.
DSP Ofori said to ensure that the prevailing peaceful in the country was not disturbed, there was the need for a comprehensive and encompassing operation to be embarked upon.
He said during the operation, the target would be to arrest financiers of land guards, disarm and discourage chiefs, opinion leaders and traditional authorities who instigated land guard activities, deal with the suppliers of weapons and logistics to land guards and elicit the support of the general public in the fight against the phenomenon.
DSP Ofori said in the long term the police and the military, as well as other security agencies, would launch an onslaught on the activities of communities of land guards, especially in the developing areas of Accra and Kumasi, such as Pokuase and Kasoa.
He said the move was to cut them off the system completely and make the practice unattractive and ensure that the rightful owners of land could make good use of their property.
DSP Ofori, therefore warned all those whose activities, in one way or another, involved land guard operations to put an immediate stop to them.
Bulldozers, cranes, as well as a combined force of military and police personnel, are on stand-by for a special operation early next week to demolish illegal structures and flush out land guards and stone winners around the Weija Dam.
The Director of Police Public Relations, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Kwasi Ofori, said to speed up the process and attain “zero level of human casualty”, a recce had already been conducted by a team of security personnel which also surveyed the activities of land guards and stone winners around the dam.
He said the move had become necessary because the stone winners and land guards in the area had become adamant and refused to heed all warnings to stop their illegal activities.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, DSP Ofori said in spite of all the efforts by the police and other security agencies to curb the land guard canker, the phenomenon continued to fester, occasionally threatening the security of the state.
He said in recent times, the activities of land guards had trebled, putting lives and property in danger at the Weija Dam site.
He said through the use of land guards, many unauthorised structures had been put up close to the dam, while others had also resorted to the use of dynamite for quarrying there.
He said the situation posed a great danger to the dam, which supplied potable water to over two million people in and around Accra.
DSP Ofori said apart from the fact that the collapse of the dam would result in the erratic supply of potable water, it could also wash away and destroy many houses and property in parts of Accra.
He, therefore warned those carrying out such illegal acts to desist immediately because they would live to regret what was going to happen to them.
DSP Ofori said it was illegal for any group of persons to possess illegal weapons and use them for clandestine operations like land guarding, while those who registered their weapons and rented them out were also guilty of the same offence.
He said the activities of land guards had become a bother to residents and developers, hence the resolve of the security agencies to tackle them, including all those who financed, supplied and recruited land guards.
He said on the one hand many property had been destroyed, while on the other many lives had been lost as a result of the nefarious activities of land guards.
He said available data on land guard activities and their effects were very worrying.
DSP Ofori said to ensure that the prevailing peaceful in the country was not disturbed, there was the need for a comprehensive and encompassing operation to be embarked upon.
He said during the operation, the target would be to arrest financiers of land guards, disarm and discourage chiefs, opinion leaders and traditional authorities who instigated land guard activities, deal with the suppliers of weapons and logistics to land guards and elicit the support of the general public in the fight against the phenomenon.
DSP Ofori said in the long term the police and the military, as well as other security agencies, would launch an onslaught on the activities of communities of land guards, especially in the developing areas of Accra and Kumasi, such as Pokuase and Kasoa.
He said the move was to cut them off the system completely and make the practice unattractive and ensure that the rightful owners of land could make good use of their property.
DSP Ofori, therefore warned all those whose activities, in one way or another, involved land guard operations to put an immediate stop to them.
Saving the Weija Dam 2,000 structures marked for demolition (front page) November 27, 2007
Story: Michael Donkor
A Combined team of personnel from the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), National Security and the Ga West District Assembly yesterday marked about 2,000 structures illegally sited in the Weija Dam area for demolition.
Although the actual day for the demolition to begin was not disclosed, the leader of the team told the Daily Graphic that all illegal structures and those put up on public lands would be removed before the end of this week.
The squad which did the marking and recce was backed by well armed policemen who took positions at the Weija Dam site at about 8.00 a.m.
The team, divided into three groups, moved from one building to another and marked them with red paint, attracting some of the occupants of the buildings and curious passers-by to come out and enquire about what was happening.
When they were told that their buildings were going to be demolished, some of the squatters protested that they had not been served with any notice and claimed that they had acquired the lands from the chief of Weija.
One of the affected property owners, Raphael Tetteh, said he acquired the land as far back as 1985 and moved in after he had completed his building in the 1990s.
He said nobody had come to tell him that his building was sited at the wrong place.
Mr Fred Kwadwo Ayebeng, who was also at the site to supervise work on parcels of land he acquired for his son, his daughter and his wife, was visibly worried when he was told that the property would be pulled down.
He said he acquired the first plot for his daughter in 1999, another for his son in 2003 and another one for his wife also around the same period, all from the children of the late chief of Weija.
He said since then work on the land had been going on smoothly until yesterday when he saw the team of policemen at the project area.
Mr Cephas Norgbedzi said he had been living peacefully in the area with his family for some years now and that nobody had come there to lay claim to the land.
He said it was a surprise for him to hear that the GWCL was claiming the land.
He said whatever the situation, it was important for the GWCL to sit with them to negotiate, instead of bringing security men to the area to demolish their property.
The Chief Manager of the GWCL, Mr Michael Agyemang, denied the claim by the residents and said adequate notice had been served them but they refused to listen.
He said the GWCL started a sensitisation programme for the encroachers as far back as 1990 when it came to its attention that some people were putting up structures there.
Mr Agyemang said the sensitisation programme was intensified in 2001 when Mr Kwamena Bartels was the sector Minister.
He said Mr Bartels took it upon himself to meet with the chiefs and opinion leaders in the area and told them that the land belonged to the government and that it was also not appropriate for them to build near the dam site because of the chemicals used in the treatment of the water.
He said despite those warnings, the people continued to encroach on the land, with the number increasing by the day.
Mr Agyemang said it was the responsibility of each prospective land buyer to check with the Lands Commission to identify the rightful owner of the land before making payment.
He said if the encroachers had done due diligence, they would have realised that the land belonged to the government and was earmarked for the GWCL.
He said apart from that, the squatters had also destroyed the pillars that the GWCL used in demarcating the land.
Mr Agyemang challenged the people to produce documents to show that the land belonged to them.
A Combined team of personnel from the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), National Security and the Ga West District Assembly yesterday marked about 2,000 structures illegally sited in the Weija Dam area for demolition.
Although the actual day for the demolition to begin was not disclosed, the leader of the team told the Daily Graphic that all illegal structures and those put up on public lands would be removed before the end of this week.
The squad which did the marking and recce was backed by well armed policemen who took positions at the Weija Dam site at about 8.00 a.m.
The team, divided into three groups, moved from one building to another and marked them with red paint, attracting some of the occupants of the buildings and curious passers-by to come out and enquire about what was happening.
When they were told that their buildings were going to be demolished, some of the squatters protested that they had not been served with any notice and claimed that they had acquired the lands from the chief of Weija.
One of the affected property owners, Raphael Tetteh, said he acquired the land as far back as 1985 and moved in after he had completed his building in the 1990s.
He said nobody had come to tell him that his building was sited at the wrong place.
Mr Fred Kwadwo Ayebeng, who was also at the site to supervise work on parcels of land he acquired for his son, his daughter and his wife, was visibly worried when he was told that the property would be pulled down.
He said he acquired the first plot for his daughter in 1999, another for his son in 2003 and another one for his wife also around the same period, all from the children of the late chief of Weija.
He said since then work on the land had been going on smoothly until yesterday when he saw the team of policemen at the project area.
Mr Cephas Norgbedzi said he had been living peacefully in the area with his family for some years now and that nobody had come there to lay claim to the land.
He said it was a surprise for him to hear that the GWCL was claiming the land.
He said whatever the situation, it was important for the GWCL to sit with them to negotiate, instead of bringing security men to the area to demolish their property.
The Chief Manager of the GWCL, Mr Michael Agyemang, denied the claim by the residents and said adequate notice had been served them but they refused to listen.
He said the GWCL started a sensitisation programme for the encroachers as far back as 1990 when it came to its attention that some people were putting up structures there.
Mr Agyemang said the sensitisation programme was intensified in 2001 when Mr Kwamena Bartels was the sector Minister.
He said Mr Bartels took it upon himself to meet with the chiefs and opinion leaders in the area and told them that the land belonged to the government and that it was also not appropriate for them to build near the dam site because of the chemicals used in the treatment of the water.
He said despite those warnings, the people continued to encroach on the land, with the number increasing by the day.
Mr Agyemang said it was the responsibility of each prospective land buyer to check with the Lands Commission to identify the rightful owner of the land before making payment.
He said if the encroachers had done due diligence, they would have realised that the land belonged to the government and was earmarked for the GWCL.
He said apart from that, the squatters had also destroyed the pillars that the GWCL used in demarcating the land.
Mr Agyemang challenged the people to produce documents to show that the land belonged to them.
Weija residents in a tango(page 3)
Story: Michael Donkor & Charles Benoni Okine
A WAR of words has broken out between some residents of Weija, on the one side, and the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), on the other, following the earmarking of 2,000 houses in the Weija Dam area for demolition this week.
At heated meeting in the area yesterday, the residents argued that the property earmarked for demolition were not within the demarcated lands of the GWCL and resolved to resist any attempt by the security agencies and the company to carry out the intended exercise.
“This matter must be settled by the courts. We are prepared for any legal showdown with whoever wants to deprive us of our lawful property,” a spokesman for the residents yelled in anger.
Most of the structures earmarked for demolition are about 150 metres away from the back of the fence wall mounted by the GWCL. And while the residents claimed the fence represented their common boundary, the GWCL said the wall was only to protect the dam.
The residents further claimed that the area was well demarcated and approved and that the GWCL, which had declared them squatters, was the same company that provided the residents with water, for which the GWCL claimed money at the end of every month.
They asked why the GWCL would extend water supply to their homes if it knew the area was its land which had been occupied illegally.
They further claimed that when some of the structures there were marked by the Ga West District Assembly (GWDA) for the owners to produce their building permits, they heeded the call and “we paid the necessary penalties to have our documents regularised for us”.
“If the company has any problems, it should face the assembly and not innocent people like us,” they added.
To buttress their point, the residents made available to the Daily Graphic documents from the GWDA and the Lands Commission indicating that they had titles to the land.
But the Ga West District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Quartey Papafio, described the building permits produced by the residents as fake.
He said it was based on those fake permits that six building inspectors of the assembly were interdicted last June for further investigations to proceed.
Mr Papafio said there was no way the assembly could have issued permits for private constructions in that area.
Mr Daniel Sackey, the Immediate Past Assembly Member for the area and son of the late chief of Weija, who had issued out lands to some of the residents, said the chiefs and opinion leaders in the area had complied with all the instructions given for the protection of the dam.
He said the opinion leaders and the chiefs of Weija had been at the forefront to ensure that residents did not do anything that would endanger the dam.
Mr Sackey said when it came to their knowledge that some people were using dynamite to blast stones near the dam, they quickly moved in to stop them.
He said it was, therefore, uncalled for the GWCL to lay claim to land that did not belong to it, under the guise that the activities there threatened the survival of the dam.
Mr Sackey said to prevent problems such as what was emerging, two committees were established about three years ago, with membership including officials of the GWCL, the Water Resources Commission and opinion leaders from Weija, to properly demarcate the land belonging to the GWCL and that of the Weija stool.
He explained that at the meetings of the committee, a clear-cut demarcation was made and both parties agreed to respect the decision.
Mr Sackey said the GWCL planted trees and erected a fence wall on along its boundaries to prevent encroachment, arguing that the company, in a bid to grab the land belonging to the Weija stool, had discarded the original demarcation plan which both parties had agreed to and had rather encroached on the land.
He said the encroached land included where the training school of the GWCL was sited.
Mr Sackey said the move that the GWCL had initiated would not help anybody and that it was important for both parties to go back to the drawing table and re-negotiate.
He said the most serious aspect of the whole issue was that even for the land that the GWCL occupied, the government had not paid the agreed compensation to the chiefs and elders of Weija since the land was acquired in 1978.
Last Monday, officials from the GWCL, National Security and the GWDA put marks on about 2,000 structures which the authorities claimed had been illegally sited in the Weija Dam area and earmarked them for demolition.
Information gathered by the Daily Graphic revealed that about eight bulldozers and giant cranes had been put on stand by to undertake a surprise demolition exercise of the structures by the end of this week.
A WAR of words has broken out between some residents of Weija, on the one side, and the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), on the other, following the earmarking of 2,000 houses in the Weija Dam area for demolition this week.
At heated meeting in the area yesterday, the residents argued that the property earmarked for demolition were not within the demarcated lands of the GWCL and resolved to resist any attempt by the security agencies and the company to carry out the intended exercise.
“This matter must be settled by the courts. We are prepared for any legal showdown with whoever wants to deprive us of our lawful property,” a spokesman for the residents yelled in anger.
Most of the structures earmarked for demolition are about 150 metres away from the back of the fence wall mounted by the GWCL. And while the residents claimed the fence represented their common boundary, the GWCL said the wall was only to protect the dam.
The residents further claimed that the area was well demarcated and approved and that the GWCL, which had declared them squatters, was the same company that provided the residents with water, for which the GWCL claimed money at the end of every month.
They asked why the GWCL would extend water supply to their homes if it knew the area was its land which had been occupied illegally.
They further claimed that when some of the structures there were marked by the Ga West District Assembly (GWDA) for the owners to produce their building permits, they heeded the call and “we paid the necessary penalties to have our documents regularised for us”.
“If the company has any problems, it should face the assembly and not innocent people like us,” they added.
To buttress their point, the residents made available to the Daily Graphic documents from the GWDA and the Lands Commission indicating that they had titles to the land.
But the Ga West District Chief Executive (DCE), Mr Quartey Papafio, described the building permits produced by the residents as fake.
He said it was based on those fake permits that six building inspectors of the assembly were interdicted last June for further investigations to proceed.
Mr Papafio said there was no way the assembly could have issued permits for private constructions in that area.
Mr Daniel Sackey, the Immediate Past Assembly Member for the area and son of the late chief of Weija, who had issued out lands to some of the residents, said the chiefs and opinion leaders in the area had complied with all the instructions given for the protection of the dam.
He said the opinion leaders and the chiefs of Weija had been at the forefront to ensure that residents did not do anything that would endanger the dam.
Mr Sackey said when it came to their knowledge that some people were using dynamite to blast stones near the dam, they quickly moved in to stop them.
He said it was, therefore, uncalled for the GWCL to lay claim to land that did not belong to it, under the guise that the activities there threatened the survival of the dam.
Mr Sackey said to prevent problems such as what was emerging, two committees were established about three years ago, with membership including officials of the GWCL, the Water Resources Commission and opinion leaders from Weija, to properly demarcate the land belonging to the GWCL and that of the Weija stool.
He explained that at the meetings of the committee, a clear-cut demarcation was made and both parties agreed to respect the decision.
Mr Sackey said the GWCL planted trees and erected a fence wall on along its boundaries to prevent encroachment, arguing that the company, in a bid to grab the land belonging to the Weija stool, had discarded the original demarcation plan which both parties had agreed to and had rather encroached on the land.
He said the encroached land included where the training school of the GWCL was sited.
Mr Sackey said the move that the GWCL had initiated would not help anybody and that it was important for both parties to go back to the drawing table and re-negotiate.
He said the most serious aspect of the whole issue was that even for the land that the GWCL occupied, the government had not paid the agreed compensation to the chiefs and elders of Weija since the land was acquired in 1978.
Last Monday, officials from the GWCL, National Security and the GWDA put marks on about 2,000 structures which the authorities claimed had been illegally sited in the Weija Dam area and earmarked them for demolition.
Information gathered by the Daily Graphic revealed that about eight bulldozers and giant cranes had been put on stand by to undertake a surprise demolition exercise of the structures by the end of this week.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Ministry Pay Health Premium for 5,000 ex-servicemen (Inside Page) 16/11/07
Story:Michael Donkor
THE Ministry of Defence yesterday paid a premium of ¢1.1billion (Gh¢110,000) to the National Health Insurance Council (NHIC)to enable the 5,000 ex-servicemen in the country benefit from the National Health Insurance Scheme.
An agreement to that effect was signed between the two institutions at a ceremony in Accra yesterday.
The Chief Executive Officer of the NHIC, Mr Ras Boateng signed on behalf of his institution while the Executive Secretary of the Veterans Association of Ghana, Col. Daniel Prah (retd) signed on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Mr Boateng said the Ghana Armed Forces was exempted from the benefits of the NHIS.
He said later an understanding was reached between his institution and the Ministry of Defence for the scheme to be extended to cover ex-servicemen.
He said with this arrangement, the ex-servicemen could assess the scheme any where they were; not necessarily Accra.
Col. Prah said the move formed part of the objective of the Ministry to cater for the healthcare needs of the ex-servicemen.
THE Ministry of Defence yesterday paid a premium of ¢1.1billion (Gh¢110,000) to the National Health Insurance Council (NHIC)to enable the 5,000 ex-servicemen in the country benefit from the National Health Insurance Scheme.
An agreement to that effect was signed between the two institutions at a ceremony in Accra yesterday.
The Chief Executive Officer of the NHIC, Mr Ras Boateng signed on behalf of his institution while the Executive Secretary of the Veterans Association of Ghana, Col. Daniel Prah (retd) signed on behalf of the Ministry of Defence.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Mr Boateng said the Ghana Armed Forces was exempted from the benefits of the NHIS.
He said later an understanding was reached between his institution and the Ministry of Defence for the scheme to be extended to cover ex-servicemen.
He said with this arrangement, the ex-servicemen could assess the scheme any where they were; not necessarily Accra.
Col. Prah said the move formed part of the objective of the Ministry to cater for the healthcare needs of the ex-servicemen.
Miraculous Escape: President Unhurtin Horrific Accident(Front Page) 15/11/2007
Story:Nehemia Owusu Achiaw & Michael Donkor
President Kufuor yesterday escaped unhurt when a black Mercedes Benz car rammed into his convoy and crashed into his car, causing it to somersault three times on one of the busiest streets in Accra.
Eyewitnesses said when the President’s car came to a stop after the crash, anxious by-standers rushed to the badly damaged vehicle and helped in the rescue mission.
President Kufuor was helped out of the wreckage by the crowd and whisked away in another vehicle by members of his security detail.
Initial test on the driver of the other vehicle, Thomas Osei, showed a level of 1.8 acl above the 0.008 permitted level of alcohol at the time of the crash. He is among the injured on admission at the 37 Military Hospital.
Within minutes of the crash and away from the accident scene, the President was narrating his experience to the Castle Press Corps during which he attributed his escape to the grace of God.
“I thank God that l remain a whole piece,” President Kufuor told a section of the Presidential Press Corps at the Castle, after the accident which occurred at the intersection close to the Silver Star Tower near the Airport.
“I did not feel any pain. l am in good health and l should think that l am okay,” he added.
Giving a brief account of how he saw the accident, President Kufuor said he was on his way from his private residence at the Airport Residential Area to the office at the Castle when the accident occurred.
What appeared to be a normal drive to work turned out to be a terrifying spectacle. President Kufuor said when all traffic had been stopped to make way for his convoy, he suddenly saw the on-rushing Mercedez Benz car in a flash and in no time the car slammed into his official vehicle.
He said his car then turned to the left from its lane into the opposite lane and virtually capsized.
With the assistance of some good Samaritans, the vehicle was turned to stand on its wheels and the door forced open before he could come out.
According to an eyewitness, Mr Peter Kuebutor, who helped in opening the President's car door for him to be taken out by the volunteers, Mr Kufuor did not sustain any cut or bruises but his driver sustained a knee injury and was rushed to the 37 Military Hospital.
He said Osei, who sustained some injury on his forehead and around his mouth , was also rushed to the 37 Military Hospital.
Mr Kuebutor said he was standing in front of the Stanbic Bank building waiting to cross the road to the other side when he saw the Mercedes Benz car drive into the convoy.
He said he then saw the President's car somersault on the road, landing on a VW Golf car with registration number GW 8750X, damaging the windscreen and the driver’s door and the passenger side of the Golf car.
He said the Mercedes Benz car was coming from the Aviance road to join the intercession but failed to stop, although the convoy horns were blaring out and lights giving strong signals.
He said the President's driver attempted to drive on after it had landed on its one side but could not move, so he ,together with some onlookers, rushed to help open the door for the President to be taken out of the car.
When the Daily Graphic team got to the scene, hundreds of people had gathered there to catch a glimpse of the President but he had already been taken away.
Some parts of the damaged cars were found lying on the street while policemen on the scene were busily directing traffic.
Later, the Minister of Defence, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, the Deputy Minister of Defence, Mr William Ofori Boafo and the Chief of the Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. J.B. Danquah, visited the injured at the 37 Military Hospital.
They were led to the Accident and Emergency wards where they were told that the injured had been taken away for X-ray.
The team followed up to the X-ray Department where the President's driver was spotted in a wheelchair while Osei laid on a bench ready for an X-ray.
There was heavy security presence in and around the department where the injured were being treated.
Plain clothes security men wielding guns had positioned themselves at vantage points of the hospital to ensure that adequate security was given to the injured.
They assured the injured that they were in safe hands and that they would be given proper care.
Osei told the visiting team that he was a contractor working with Pure Construction Company Limited in Accra.
He said it was not a deliberate attempt on his part to drive into the President's convoy.
Since 2001, the Presidential convoy has been involved in more than six accidents, resulting in the death of more than five security personnel and injury to others.
After the accident and initial examination by medical doctors, the President continued with his normal official work at the Castle, receiving two delegations from Wassa Fiase in the Western Region and Birim in the Eastern Region.
The delegation from Wassa Fiase, led by Osagyefo Kwamina Enimil VI, was at the Castle to thank the President for ensuring the construction of the Agona Junction-Tarkwa road, upgrading of the Tarkwa School of Mines into a university, the elevation of Tarkwa into a municipality and for creating a new district in the Bogoso area.
The delegation from Birim was also at the Castle to thank the President for appointing Mrs Esther Obeng Dapaah as Minister of Lands, Mines and Forestry and for the creation of the Birim North District.
President Kufuor said the government had worked so hard to turn the fortunes of the country and was hopeful that with the discovery of oil, production of cocoa and general development, the future of the country was brighter.
President Kufuor yesterday escaped unhurt when a black Mercedes Benz car rammed into his convoy and crashed into his car, causing it to somersault three times on one of the busiest streets in Accra.
Eyewitnesses said when the President’s car came to a stop after the crash, anxious by-standers rushed to the badly damaged vehicle and helped in the rescue mission.
President Kufuor was helped out of the wreckage by the crowd and whisked away in another vehicle by members of his security detail.
Initial test on the driver of the other vehicle, Thomas Osei, showed a level of 1.8 acl above the 0.008 permitted level of alcohol at the time of the crash. He is among the injured on admission at the 37 Military Hospital.
Within minutes of the crash and away from the accident scene, the President was narrating his experience to the Castle Press Corps during which he attributed his escape to the grace of God.
“I thank God that l remain a whole piece,” President Kufuor told a section of the Presidential Press Corps at the Castle, after the accident which occurred at the intersection close to the Silver Star Tower near the Airport.
“I did not feel any pain. l am in good health and l should think that l am okay,” he added.
Giving a brief account of how he saw the accident, President Kufuor said he was on his way from his private residence at the Airport Residential Area to the office at the Castle when the accident occurred.
What appeared to be a normal drive to work turned out to be a terrifying spectacle. President Kufuor said when all traffic had been stopped to make way for his convoy, he suddenly saw the on-rushing Mercedez Benz car in a flash and in no time the car slammed into his official vehicle.
He said his car then turned to the left from its lane into the opposite lane and virtually capsized.
With the assistance of some good Samaritans, the vehicle was turned to stand on its wheels and the door forced open before he could come out.
According to an eyewitness, Mr Peter Kuebutor, who helped in opening the President's car door for him to be taken out by the volunteers, Mr Kufuor did not sustain any cut or bruises but his driver sustained a knee injury and was rushed to the 37 Military Hospital.
He said Osei, who sustained some injury on his forehead and around his mouth , was also rushed to the 37 Military Hospital.
Mr Kuebutor said he was standing in front of the Stanbic Bank building waiting to cross the road to the other side when he saw the Mercedes Benz car drive into the convoy.
He said he then saw the President's car somersault on the road, landing on a VW Golf car with registration number GW 8750X, damaging the windscreen and the driver’s door and the passenger side of the Golf car.
He said the Mercedes Benz car was coming from the Aviance road to join the intercession but failed to stop, although the convoy horns were blaring out and lights giving strong signals.
He said the President's driver attempted to drive on after it had landed on its one side but could not move, so he ,together with some onlookers, rushed to help open the door for the President to be taken out of the car.
When the Daily Graphic team got to the scene, hundreds of people had gathered there to catch a glimpse of the President but he had already been taken away.
Some parts of the damaged cars were found lying on the street while policemen on the scene were busily directing traffic.
Later, the Minister of Defence, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, the Deputy Minister of Defence, Mr William Ofori Boafo and the Chief of the Defence Staff, Lt. Gen. J.B. Danquah, visited the injured at the 37 Military Hospital.
They were led to the Accident and Emergency wards where they were told that the injured had been taken away for X-ray.
The team followed up to the X-ray Department where the President's driver was spotted in a wheelchair while Osei laid on a bench ready for an X-ray.
There was heavy security presence in and around the department where the injured were being treated.
Plain clothes security men wielding guns had positioned themselves at vantage points of the hospital to ensure that adequate security was given to the injured.
They assured the injured that they were in safe hands and that they would be given proper care.
Osei told the visiting team that he was a contractor working with Pure Construction Company Limited in Accra.
He said it was not a deliberate attempt on his part to drive into the President's convoy.
Since 2001, the Presidential convoy has been involved in more than six accidents, resulting in the death of more than five security personnel and injury to others.
After the accident and initial examination by medical doctors, the President continued with his normal official work at the Castle, receiving two delegations from Wassa Fiase in the Western Region and Birim in the Eastern Region.
The delegation from Wassa Fiase, led by Osagyefo Kwamina Enimil VI, was at the Castle to thank the President for ensuring the construction of the Agona Junction-Tarkwa road, upgrading of the Tarkwa School of Mines into a university, the elevation of Tarkwa into a municipality and for creating a new district in the Bogoso area.
The delegation from Birim was also at the Castle to thank the President for appointing Mrs Esther Obeng Dapaah as Minister of Lands, Mines and Forestry and for the creation of the Birim North District.
President Kufuor said the government had worked so hard to turn the fortunes of the country and was hopeful that with the discovery of oil, production of cocoa and general development, the future of the country was brighter.
GOVERNMENT DEPLOYS SECURITY AT WEIJA DAM(iNSIDE PAGE) 11/15/07
Story:Michael Donkor & Eleanor Gurney
THE Government has announced plans to deploy security personnel to the Weija Dam site to stop the activities of the illegal stone winners there.
A meeting to discuss strategies for the effective deployment of the security personnel has been scheduled to take place today between the Minister of National Security and the Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources, as well as some officials of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL).
The Works, Housing and Water Resources Minister, Mr. Abubarkar Sadiqque Boniface, announced this when he visited the Weija Dam site yesterday to get first-hand information on what was happening there, following media reports on the danger posed to the dam by the stone winners.
He said that the Government was sourcing ¢30 billion to fence the entire land area of the GWCL at Weija and to establish other security measures such as security gates and identity cards for GWCL staff.
At the site, the Minister said he was disturbed to observe that many private structures had been illegally erected very close to the site of a new reservoir that was being constructed to increase the water supply to the Greater Accra Region to 50 millions gallons of water per day.
The proximity of the structures to the dam and to the new reservoir means that the water supply could easily be contaminated by waste materials thrown over the boundary fence.
The buildings are also so close to the boundary fence that the expansion of the plant has become restricted, thus limiting the potential of the dam and its water supply to meet the needs of the growing population of Greater Accra.
It was also observed that several homes had been built at the very edge of the upper river bank near the dam. The rocky nature of this area means that there is a high risk of any sewage from these homes flowing directly into the Greater Accra water supply system.
The Minister said the danger posed to the Weija Dam water supply system had become a ‘National Emergency’, and urged those who had trespassed on GWCL land by illegally building there to leave immediately.
He said that the security personnel due to be deployed to the dam site would also assist in clearing GWCL land of trespassers and in the demolition of any illegal structures.
The Minister said that the Government had already informed the Local Government Ministry and the District Assembly of the need to clear the GWCL land of encroachers and provided the District Assembly ¢1 billion two years ago for the purpose.
He said that the Government would make every effort to pay compensation to those who would be affected by the land clearing measures and that the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources was waiting for information from the Land Commission in order to determine who was entitled to it.
The Minister stressed the danger posed by the illegal construction and stone winning activities.
If the main water pipes leading to Accra were severed through negligence during the construction of new properties, he said, the water supply to the whole of Greater Accra could cease. He added that if the dam itself was breached, half of the city would be flooded.
The Minister appealed to the general public to assist in encouraging people residing on GWCL land to vacate immediately.
THE Government has announced plans to deploy security personnel to the Weija Dam site to stop the activities of the illegal stone winners there.
A meeting to discuss strategies for the effective deployment of the security personnel has been scheduled to take place today between the Minister of National Security and the Minister of Works, Housing and Water Resources, as well as some officials of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL).
The Works, Housing and Water Resources Minister, Mr. Abubarkar Sadiqque Boniface, announced this when he visited the Weija Dam site yesterday to get first-hand information on what was happening there, following media reports on the danger posed to the dam by the stone winners.
He said that the Government was sourcing ¢30 billion to fence the entire land area of the GWCL at Weija and to establish other security measures such as security gates and identity cards for GWCL staff.
At the site, the Minister said he was disturbed to observe that many private structures had been illegally erected very close to the site of a new reservoir that was being constructed to increase the water supply to the Greater Accra Region to 50 millions gallons of water per day.
The proximity of the structures to the dam and to the new reservoir means that the water supply could easily be contaminated by waste materials thrown over the boundary fence.
The buildings are also so close to the boundary fence that the expansion of the plant has become restricted, thus limiting the potential of the dam and its water supply to meet the needs of the growing population of Greater Accra.
It was also observed that several homes had been built at the very edge of the upper river bank near the dam. The rocky nature of this area means that there is a high risk of any sewage from these homes flowing directly into the Greater Accra water supply system.
The Minister said the danger posed to the Weija Dam water supply system had become a ‘National Emergency’, and urged those who had trespassed on GWCL land by illegally building there to leave immediately.
He said that the security personnel due to be deployed to the dam site would also assist in clearing GWCL land of trespassers and in the demolition of any illegal structures.
The Minister said that the Government had already informed the Local Government Ministry and the District Assembly of the need to clear the GWCL land of encroachers and provided the District Assembly ¢1 billion two years ago for the purpose.
He said that the Government would make every effort to pay compensation to those who would be affected by the land clearing measures and that the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources was waiting for information from the Land Commission in order to determine who was entitled to it.
The Minister stressed the danger posed by the illegal construction and stone winning activities.
If the main water pipes leading to Accra were severed through negligence during the construction of new properties, he said, the water supply to the whole of Greater Accra could cease. He added that if the dam itself was breached, half of the city would be flooded.
The Minister appealed to the general public to assist in encouraging people residing on GWCL land to vacate immediately.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Weija Dam Under Threat (Front Page)
Story: Michael Donkor
THE persistent use of dynamite by stone winners to blast rocks near the Weija Dam has exposed the dam to imminent collapse, experts have warned.
The situation also threatens the survival of about 2.8 million residents of the Eastern and Western parts of Accra who rely on the Weija Dam for their water supply.
By early afternoon yesterday when a team of mediamen and experts toured the dam site, the stone winners had inched within a few steps to the dam, with their blasting causing trembles to the dam and the pump station any time the rocks were blasted.
The stone winners operating along the banks of the dam have completely levelled the entire hilly part of the area.
The caved in part of area appeared in danger of collapsing any time soon into the dam.
Any time the stone winners blasted the rocks, huge stones and sand dropped into the dam, polluting it and reducing the depth of the water gradually.
The Plant Manager at the Weija site of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Mr Michael Amuakwa, told newsmen during the visit that the imminent collapse of the dam would be disastrous to human lives and property.
He said two weeks ago a blast was carried out at the site and the impact was felt at the pump house.
He said apart from the fact that residents of Accra who received their water supplies from the Weija Dam would not get water, areas in and around Weija, Gbawe, parts of Dansoman and the rest could be flooded.
Mr Amuakwa stressed the need for the authorities concerned to stop the activities of the stone winners to prevent a disaster from occurring.
The old dam was washed away in 1958. Work on the current one started in 1974 and it was inaugurated in 1978. It currently supplies 40 million gallons of water a day for distribution to the western parts of Accra.
Mr Amuakwa said apart from the activities of the stone winners, some squatters were also encroaching on the land belonging to the GWCL.
He said it was not advisable for people to live close to the pump station because of the chlorine gas that was used there.
Mr Amuakwa said 13,000 acres of land around the station had been encroached on.
He said chlorine gas was dangerous to human health and noted that the gas could also explode anytime. He explained that workers of the company had been trained to handle chemicals and knew what to do in the event of a disaster. He, therefore, asked the squatters to vacate the area.
He said the people should live at least five kilometres away from the pump station.
Mr Amuakwa said the GWCL planned to increase the capacity of the station to 50 million gallons but said human activities around the area did not help the expansion programme.
The District Chief Executive for Ga West, Mr Quartey Papafio, said the area had been taken over by land guards who protected the property of the encroachers while they developed their buildings.
He said the activities of the land guards had made it difficult for his men to stop the illegal developments going on there.
Mr Papafio noted that the land guards often issued death threats to officials from the Ga West District Assembly who patrolled the area to ensure that structures were not erected illegally.
Some of the stone winners who spoke to the Daily Graphic said they had been operating in the area for years and that they had no place to go to earn their living.
They, therefore, appealed to the government to find a suitable place where they could earn a living to relocate.
THE persistent use of dynamite by stone winners to blast rocks near the Weija Dam has exposed the dam to imminent collapse, experts have warned.
The situation also threatens the survival of about 2.8 million residents of the Eastern and Western parts of Accra who rely on the Weija Dam for their water supply.
By early afternoon yesterday when a team of mediamen and experts toured the dam site, the stone winners had inched within a few steps to the dam, with their blasting causing trembles to the dam and the pump station any time the rocks were blasted.
The stone winners operating along the banks of the dam have completely levelled the entire hilly part of the area.
The caved in part of area appeared in danger of collapsing any time soon into the dam.
Any time the stone winners blasted the rocks, huge stones and sand dropped into the dam, polluting it and reducing the depth of the water gradually.
The Plant Manager at the Weija site of the Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL), Mr Michael Amuakwa, told newsmen during the visit that the imminent collapse of the dam would be disastrous to human lives and property.
He said two weeks ago a blast was carried out at the site and the impact was felt at the pump house.
He said apart from the fact that residents of Accra who received their water supplies from the Weija Dam would not get water, areas in and around Weija, Gbawe, parts of Dansoman and the rest could be flooded.
Mr Amuakwa stressed the need for the authorities concerned to stop the activities of the stone winners to prevent a disaster from occurring.
The old dam was washed away in 1958. Work on the current one started in 1974 and it was inaugurated in 1978. It currently supplies 40 million gallons of water a day for distribution to the western parts of Accra.
Mr Amuakwa said apart from the activities of the stone winners, some squatters were also encroaching on the land belonging to the GWCL.
He said it was not advisable for people to live close to the pump station because of the chlorine gas that was used there.
Mr Amuakwa said 13,000 acres of land around the station had been encroached on.
He said chlorine gas was dangerous to human health and noted that the gas could also explode anytime. He explained that workers of the company had been trained to handle chemicals and knew what to do in the event of a disaster. He, therefore, asked the squatters to vacate the area.
He said the people should live at least five kilometres away from the pump station.
Mr Amuakwa said the GWCL planned to increase the capacity of the station to 50 million gallons but said human activities around the area did not help the expansion programme.
The District Chief Executive for Ga West, Mr Quartey Papafio, said the area had been taken over by land guards who protected the property of the encroachers while they developed their buildings.
He said the activities of the land guards had made it difficult for his men to stop the illegal developments going on there.
Mr Papafio noted that the land guards often issued death threats to officials from the Ga West District Assembly who patrolled the area to ensure that structures were not erected illegally.
Some of the stone winners who spoke to the Daily Graphic said they had been operating in the area for years and that they had no place to go to earn their living.
They, therefore, appealed to the government to find a suitable place where they could earn a living to relocate.
Thieves Vandalise Street Lights
Story:Michael Donkor & Jasmine Afari-Mintah
THIEVES have vandalised the newly installed street lights on the recently constructed Tetteh-Quarshie interchange in Accra resulting in the complete breakdown of the entire lighting circuit.
They have stolen long spans of power cables and cubicle components on the poles during power outages.
The Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana, Mr Jude Adu-Amankwah who confirmed this in an interview with the Daily Graphic said the contractors working on the project, Technolights Limited had written to inform the ECG about the theft.
He said although the lights had not been officially handed over to them the theft was not a welcome news.
He said this was not the first time that thieves had vandalised street lights.
He said most of the street lights which had not been functional had been due to the activities of thieves who had always been tampering with the cables connected to the poles of street lights.
On the issue of some traffic lights which had not been functioning since the loadshedding exercise was halted, Mr Adu-Amankwah said the ECG had supplied uninterrupted power to its consumers and that the problem might be with the bulbs or other electrical problems but not with power.
He said if there was no power supply to these traffic lights mostly in Accra, the ECG should be officially notified by the authorities in charge of the maintenance of the lights.
He said so far the ECG had not received such complaints.
On the issue of power outages to the stations of the Ghana Water Company which had resulted in the erratic power supply, Mr Adu-Amankwah said they were expected to have a standby generator for any sensitive equipment to ensure that they were not affected by power outages.
He said the Ghana Water Company was not an exception and that they were to have standby generators to supply water.
He, therefore appealed to them to stop passing the buck that their inability to supply uninterrupted water to some areas were due to power outages.
Mr Adu-Amankwah expressed concern about how people fixed bulbs on electric poles in the name of connecting a street light, but then the lights only reflect in their homes.
He said such practices was not helping the nation and advised people to let those lights be connected to their metres since it served their personal needs.
THIEVES have vandalised the newly installed street lights on the recently constructed Tetteh-Quarshie interchange in Accra resulting in the complete breakdown of the entire lighting circuit.
They have stolen long spans of power cables and cubicle components on the poles during power outages.
The Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana, Mr Jude Adu-Amankwah who confirmed this in an interview with the Daily Graphic said the contractors working on the project, Technolights Limited had written to inform the ECG about the theft.
He said although the lights had not been officially handed over to them the theft was not a welcome news.
He said this was not the first time that thieves had vandalised street lights.
He said most of the street lights which had not been functional had been due to the activities of thieves who had always been tampering with the cables connected to the poles of street lights.
On the issue of some traffic lights which had not been functioning since the loadshedding exercise was halted, Mr Adu-Amankwah said the ECG had supplied uninterrupted power to its consumers and that the problem might be with the bulbs or other electrical problems but not with power.
He said if there was no power supply to these traffic lights mostly in Accra, the ECG should be officially notified by the authorities in charge of the maintenance of the lights.
He said so far the ECG had not received such complaints.
On the issue of power outages to the stations of the Ghana Water Company which had resulted in the erratic power supply, Mr Adu-Amankwah said they were expected to have a standby generator for any sensitive equipment to ensure that they were not affected by power outages.
He said the Ghana Water Company was not an exception and that they were to have standby generators to supply water.
He, therefore appealed to them to stop passing the buck that their inability to supply uninterrupted water to some areas were due to power outages.
Mr Adu-Amankwah expressed concern about how people fixed bulbs on electric poles in the name of connecting a street light, but then the lights only reflect in their homes.
He said such practices was not helping the nation and advised people to let those lights be connected to their metres since it served their personal needs.
Thieves Vandalise Street Lights
Story:Michael Donkor & Jasmine Afari-Mintah
THIEVES have vandalised the newly installed street lights on the recently constructed Tetteh-Quarshie interchange in Accra resulting in the complete breakdown of the entire lighting circuit.
They have stolen long spans of power cables and cubicle components on the poles during power outages.
The Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana, Mr Jude Adu-Amankwah who confirmed this in an interview with the Daily Graphic said the contractors working on the project, Technolights Limited had written to inform the ECG about the theft.
He said although the lights had not been officially handed over to them the theft was not a welcome news.
He said this was not the first time that thieves had vandalised street lights.
He said most of the street lights which had not been functional had been due to the activities of thieves who had always been tampering with the cables connected to the poles of street lights.
On the issue of some traffic lights which had not been functioning since the loadshedding exercise was halted, Mr Adu-Amankwah said the ECG had supplied uninterrupted power to its consumers and that the problem might be with the bulbs or other electrical problems but not with power.
He said if there was no power supply to these traffic lights mostly in Accra, the ECG should be officially notified by the authorities in charge of the maintenance of the lights.
He said so far the ECG had not received such complaints.
On the issue of power outages to the stations of the Ghana Water Company which had resulted in the erratic power supply, Mr Adu-Amankwah said they were expected to have a standby generator for any sensitive equipment to ensure that they were not affected by power outages.
He said the Ghana Water Company was not an exception and that they were to have standby generators to supply water.
He, therefore appealed to them to stop passing the buck that their inability to supply uninterrupted water to some areas were due to power outages.
Mr Adu-Amankwah expressed concern about how people fixed bulbs on electric poles in the name of connecting a street light, but then the lights only reflect in their homes.
He said such practices was not helping the nation and advised people to let those lights be connected to their metres since it served their personal needs.
THIEVES have vandalised the newly installed street lights on the recently constructed Tetteh-Quarshie interchange in Accra resulting in the complete breakdown of the entire lighting circuit.
They have stolen long spans of power cables and cubicle components on the poles during power outages.
The Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana, Mr Jude Adu-Amankwah who confirmed this in an interview with the Daily Graphic said the contractors working on the project, Technolights Limited had written to inform the ECG about the theft.
He said although the lights had not been officially handed over to them the theft was not a welcome news.
He said this was not the first time that thieves had vandalised street lights.
He said most of the street lights which had not been functional had been due to the activities of thieves who had always been tampering with the cables connected to the poles of street lights.
On the issue of some traffic lights which had not been functioning since the loadshedding exercise was halted, Mr Adu-Amankwah said the ECG had supplied uninterrupted power to its consumers and that the problem might be with the bulbs or other electrical problems but not with power.
He said if there was no power supply to these traffic lights mostly in Accra, the ECG should be officially notified by the authorities in charge of the maintenance of the lights.
He said so far the ECG had not received such complaints.
On the issue of power outages to the stations of the Ghana Water Company which had resulted in the erratic power supply, Mr Adu-Amankwah said they were expected to have a standby generator for any sensitive equipment to ensure that they were not affected by power outages.
He said the Ghana Water Company was not an exception and that they were to have standby generators to supply water.
He, therefore appealed to them to stop passing the buck that their inability to supply uninterrupted water to some areas were due to power outages.
Mr Adu-Amankwah expressed concern about how people fixed bulbs on electric poles in the name of connecting a street light, but then the lights only reflect in their homes.
He said such practices was not helping the nation and advised people to let those lights be connected to their metres since it served their personal needs.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Civil/military collaboration key to conflict resolution(page 19)
Story: Michael Donkor & Edward Turkson
A former Diplomat, Ambassador Jimmy Aggrey-Orleans, has called for an effective collaboration between civilians and the military to address the conflict situation in the West African sub-region.
He said conflicts in West Africa could not be solved through a military strategy alone but in a civil-military partnership.
Ambassador Aggrey-Orleans made the call at a 10-day Civil-Military Operation Course at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre at Teshie near Accra on Wednesday.
The course seeks to improve civil-military co-ordination at the middle management level of African military officers and civilian authorities.
About 30 participants from Ghana, Nigeria and Chad are attending the course.
The participants would be briefed on the roles of various organisations in providing security and stability to improve the harmonisation between military and civilian authorities.
Ambassador Aggrey-Orleans, who is now a consultant, said instability in the sub-region had contributed to the under-development of the region and called on the military to subject themselves to civilian rule.
He said a country was ruled by a government and since the civil populace outnumbered that of the military it was appropriate that civilians rule.
He said the destiny of Africa had launched it through various military stages that the military and the civil should work together towards the development of the continent.
Ambassador Aggrey-Orleans called for the military to be brought from the barracks to the people for the public to know that soldiers were as human as civilians.
He called on Africans to put their act together before entering into any partnerships.
Ambassador Aggrey-Orleans said “we cannot walk like sheep into any development partnership without taking intelligent steps towards that”.
He said the days of the cold war where countries aligned themselves to an ideology was no more and urged Africans to see themselves as part of a globalised world and be themselves.
He said the security environment was just like a globalised world which involved Africans and that it was important to take intelligent approach towards it.
The Commandant of the Kofi International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Major-Gen John Attipoe, said civil-military co-operation was key to the achievement of humanitarian objectives, as well as the fulfilment of the mandate of peace support operations.
A former Diplomat, Ambassador Jimmy Aggrey-Orleans, has called for an effective collaboration between civilians and the military to address the conflict situation in the West African sub-region.
He said conflicts in West Africa could not be solved through a military strategy alone but in a civil-military partnership.
Ambassador Aggrey-Orleans made the call at a 10-day Civil-Military Operation Course at the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre at Teshie near Accra on Wednesday.
The course seeks to improve civil-military co-ordination at the middle management level of African military officers and civilian authorities.
About 30 participants from Ghana, Nigeria and Chad are attending the course.
The participants would be briefed on the roles of various organisations in providing security and stability to improve the harmonisation between military and civilian authorities.
Ambassador Aggrey-Orleans, who is now a consultant, said instability in the sub-region had contributed to the under-development of the region and called on the military to subject themselves to civilian rule.
He said a country was ruled by a government and since the civil populace outnumbered that of the military it was appropriate that civilians rule.
He said the destiny of Africa had launched it through various military stages that the military and the civil should work together towards the development of the continent.
Ambassador Aggrey-Orleans called for the military to be brought from the barracks to the people for the public to know that soldiers were as human as civilians.
He called on Africans to put their act together before entering into any partnerships.
Ambassador Aggrey-Orleans said “we cannot walk like sheep into any development partnership without taking intelligent steps towards that”.
He said the days of the cold war where countries aligned themselves to an ideology was no more and urged Africans to see themselves as part of a globalised world and be themselves.
He said the security environment was just like a globalised world which involved Africans and that it was important to take intelligent approach towards it.
The Commandant of the Kofi International Peacekeeping Training Centre, Major-Gen John Attipoe, said civil-military co-operation was key to the achievement of humanitarian objectives, as well as the fulfilment of the mandate of peace support operations.
GWCL DRILLS SIX BOREHOLES AT DODOWA (BACK PAGE)
Story: Michael Donkor & Jasmine Afari-Mintah
SIX boreholes have been drilled at Dodowa, near Accra, by the Ghana Water Company (GWCL) to generate 100,000 gallons of water a day for customers of the company living in the eastern part of Accra.
The move was supported by Aqua Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL), operators of water supply, for the GWCL to improve on the erratic water distribution to its customers in Eastern Accra.
The Public Relations Officer of the Accra East Region of the AVRL, Mr Emmanuel Essilfie-Conduah, who disclosed this in an interview with the Daily Graphic last Thursday, said 15 more boreholes were being drilled to generate more water to boost what was being supplied.
He said the 15 boreholes were being drilled at St Johns, Taifa, Tantra Hill, Burkina, Taifa and Ashongman, adding that they would be operational next year.
He appealed to the public to exercise restraint as the AVRL improved on its service delivery to them.
Mr Essilfie-Conduah said additional filling points had been built at Agyiriganor and Palm Wine Junction, near La in Accra, for tanker drivers to draw water for supply to the people.
He called on contractors working on roads to get in touch with the GWCL before embarking on any road construction
to enable AVRL to help the contractors to identify where pipelines were located in order not to destroy them.
Mr Essilfie-Conduah also appealed to the Electricity Company of Ghana to ensure smooth power supply to booster stations of the AVRL to provide water regularly for its customers.
SIX boreholes have been drilled at Dodowa, near Accra, by the Ghana Water Company (GWCL) to generate 100,000 gallons of water a day for customers of the company living in the eastern part of Accra.
The move was supported by Aqua Vitens Rand Limited (AVRL), operators of water supply, for the GWCL to improve on the erratic water distribution to its customers in Eastern Accra.
The Public Relations Officer of the Accra East Region of the AVRL, Mr Emmanuel Essilfie-Conduah, who disclosed this in an interview with the Daily Graphic last Thursday, said 15 more boreholes were being drilled to generate more water to boost what was being supplied.
He said the 15 boreholes were being drilled at St Johns, Taifa, Tantra Hill, Burkina, Taifa and Ashongman, adding that they would be operational next year.
He appealed to the public to exercise restraint as the AVRL improved on its service delivery to them.
Mr Essilfie-Conduah said additional filling points had been built at Agyiriganor and Palm Wine Junction, near La in Accra, for tanker drivers to draw water for supply to the people.
He called on contractors working on roads to get in touch with the GWCL before embarking on any road construction
to enable AVRL to help the contractors to identify where pipelines were located in order not to destroy them.
Mr Essilfie-Conduah also appealed to the Electricity Company of Ghana to ensure smooth power supply to booster stations of the AVRL to provide water regularly for its customers.
ECG ORDERS 196,000 PREPAID METRES FOR DISTRIBUTION (BACKPAGE)
Story: Michael Donkor & Jasmine Afari-Mintah
ABOUT 196,000 prepaid meters have been ordered by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) for installation throughout the country as part of the company’s programme to switch over from credit meters to prepaid ones.
In line with the exercise, the ECG has already installed 45,000 prepaid meters in some parts of the country.
The beneficiary areas of the first phase of the change over are Koforidua, which has had 15,000 pre-paid meters installed; Ho, 9,600; Tema, 15,000, with 6,000 being installed in the area around Korle-Bu.
The Managing Director of the ECG, Mr Jude Adu-Amankwah, who disclosed this in an interview in Accra, said all households in Accra would have their meters changed to prepaid ones by November next year.
He explained that the change-over exercise was put on a hold as a result of the introduction of new electricity tariffs,
saying the resumption of the exercise began with the installation of 6,000 units in and around Korle-Bu.
Mr Adu-Amankwah said upon the arrival of the new consignment of meters, the ECG would install between 600 and 800 of them every day.
He said the meters had been customised to meet ECG’s peculiar requirements, while the company’s vendor stations had been networked.
He expressed the hope that with the introduction of the new tariffs, the ECG would deliver quality services to its numerous customers.
ABOUT 196,000 prepaid meters have been ordered by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) for installation throughout the country as part of the company’s programme to switch over from credit meters to prepaid ones.
In line with the exercise, the ECG has already installed 45,000 prepaid meters in some parts of the country.
The beneficiary areas of the first phase of the change over are Koforidua, which has had 15,000 pre-paid meters installed; Ho, 9,600; Tema, 15,000, with 6,000 being installed in the area around Korle-Bu.
The Managing Director of the ECG, Mr Jude Adu-Amankwah, who disclosed this in an interview in Accra, said all households in Accra would have their meters changed to prepaid ones by November next year.
He explained that the change-over exercise was put on a hold as a result of the introduction of new electricity tariffs,
saying the resumption of the exercise began with the installation of 6,000 units in and around Korle-Bu.
Mr Adu-Amankwah said upon the arrival of the new consignment of meters, the ECG would install between 600 and 800 of them every day.
He said the meters had been customised to meet ECG’s peculiar requirements, while the company’s vendor stations had been networked.
He expressed the hope that with the introduction of the new tariffs, the ECG would deliver quality services to its numerous customers.
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