Story: Michael Donkor
The chiefs, elders and youth of Lerwem, a farming community in Ningo near Accra, have protested against the acquisition of large tracts of their land by the Queens Atlantic Resort, a private estate developer, for development into residential and tourist facilities.
They, therefore, vowed to resist any attempt by the private developer to develop 171 acres acquired from Nene Kanor Atiapah III, the Mankralo of Ningo Traditional Area and acting president of the area.
However, the company insists that it genuinely acquired the land for the purpose intended.
According to the chief of Lerwem, Nene Agortey Teffah II, the people inherited the farmland from their forefathers and they had been farming on it to earn a living.
He said their farms and the only cemetery where they bury their relatives, were being destroyed by the developer.
Briefing the Daily Graphic about their predicament, the spokesman for the Lerwem Stool, Mr Tafa Ahadie, said about a year ago they saw pillars being erected on their farmlands and they reported the development to the chief.
He said the chief said he knew nothing about the move and ordered that the pillars be removed, which they did.
Mr Ahadie said later Nene Atiapah came to them and said he had allocated the land to a private developer for development.
Although they kicked against the idea, they saw bulldozers on their land destroying their farms.
Mr Ahadie said they subsequently petitioned the Ningo-Prampram police to intervene to forestall any bloodshed but that did not yield any results only for the developer to deploy land guards at the site to terrorise them anytime they went to farm.
But when Nene Atiapah was contacted, he denied that he clandestinely sold the land. Rather, he said, the land was sold based on the consent of the 14 family heads making up the clan and showed documents bearing the signatures of all the 14 family heads to the Daily Graphic.
He claimed that some people from Lerwem sold portions of the land to a developer for GH¢17,000, a move he kicked against because the due process of land acquisition was not followed.
In view of his position on the sale of the portion of the land, Nene Atiapah said some of the people also decided to create problems for the Queens Atlantic Resort who had acquired large portions of the land for investment.
He said those whose farms were destroyed had been compensated and when the issue of the cemetery came to him, he quickly resolved the problem by ensuring that that portion of the land was not affected by the development initiated by the Queens Atlantic Resort .
He, therefore, expressed surprise at the behaviour of the people of Lerwem.
When the private developer, Queen Irene Cole, was contacted, she showed video footings of all the transactions she had with the 14 family heads in connection with the land.
She produced documents which gave her title to the land in dispute and added that she had paid the owners of the land.
She said what was left for her to pay to Nene Atiapah would be effected after she had developed the land in accordance with the sales agreement.
Queen Cole said she would resist any attempt by anybody to take the land from her, since she went through the right procedure to acquire it.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Japan supports Ghana with US$16.5m grant (August 15, 2009)
Story: Michael Donkor
THE Japanese government has made available a grant of $16.5 million to support the government’s development projects.
Six million dollars of the grant is to be used to support basic education in deprived areas while the remaining will be used to open a lending facility on very soft terms for small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) to import production equipment, individual goods and raw materials.
Consequently, a memorandum of understanding to that effect has been signed by the two governments.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, signed on behalf of Ghana, while the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Keiichi Katakami, signed on behalf of his government.
In a brief statement after signing the document, Mr Katakami noted that private sector development was one of the key challenging issues facing Ghana’s social and economic development.
He said though there had been progress on improving the business environment for the private sector in the country, the difficulties still remained for the SMEs to acquire the necessary inputs for their growth and competitiveness.
It was in view of this, he said, that the Japanese government had decided to channel more resources to support the government.
Mr Katakami expressed the hope that the grant would contribute to the strengthening of industrial development from the grass-roots level in the country.
He said the grant to support the rural educational sector would be used to provide classroom buildings, teachers’ accommodation, toilet facilities and furniture in 21 schools in the Northern Region and 16 schools in the Central Region.
Alhaji Mumuni thanked the Japanese government for the support and gave the assurance that the money would be used for its intended purpose.
He said the gesture was a demonstration of the Government of Japan’s commitment to partner Ghana to make the private sector the engine of growth of the economy.
The minister indicated that the machinery, equipment and other materials to be purchased under this facility would be procured on hire purchase basis upon request from the SMEs and all re-imbursements made would be deposited into an account with the Bank of Ghana.
THE Japanese government has made available a grant of $16.5 million to support the government’s development projects.
Six million dollars of the grant is to be used to support basic education in deprived areas while the remaining will be used to open a lending facility on very soft terms for small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) to import production equipment, individual goods and raw materials.
Consequently, a memorandum of understanding to that effect has been signed by the two governments.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni, signed on behalf of Ghana, while the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Keiichi Katakami, signed on behalf of his government.
In a brief statement after signing the document, Mr Katakami noted that private sector development was one of the key challenging issues facing Ghana’s social and economic development.
He said though there had been progress on improving the business environment for the private sector in the country, the difficulties still remained for the SMEs to acquire the necessary inputs for their growth and competitiveness.
It was in view of this, he said, that the Japanese government had decided to channel more resources to support the government.
Mr Katakami expressed the hope that the grant would contribute to the strengthening of industrial development from the grass-roots level in the country.
He said the grant to support the rural educational sector would be used to provide classroom buildings, teachers’ accommodation, toilet facilities and furniture in 21 schools in the Northern Region and 16 schools in the Central Region.
Alhaji Mumuni thanked the Japanese government for the support and gave the assurance that the money would be used for its intended purpose.
He said the gesture was a demonstration of the Government of Japan’s commitment to partner Ghana to make the private sector the engine of growth of the economy.
The minister indicated that the machinery, equipment and other materials to be purchased under this facility would be procured on hire purchase basis upon request from the SMEs and all re-imbursements made would be deposited into an account with the Bank of Ghana.
"Demonstrate High Ethical Standards" Veep urges Ghana Armed Forces August 15, 2009
Story Michael Donkor
THE Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, has called on the personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to demonstrate high ethical standards and act with greater restraint even in the face of provocation.
He said the growing popularity of democracy as a preferred model of governance was a challenge to the Armed Forces of many developing nations, including Ghana, hence the need to act responsibly.
The Vice-President made the call at a graduation ceremony of some senior officers at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFSC) in Accra yesterday.
Fifty nine officers from the Armed Forces of 16 African countries graduated.
The countries are Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Togo.
The others are Botswana, Congo Brazzaville, La Cote d’ Ivoire, The Gambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia.
The course is aimed at developing the analytical and communication skills of officers.
Mr Mahama said democracy carried with it the responsibility of openness, transparency, accountability, respect for human rights and the rule of law.
In this connection, he said, the conduct of military operations, including training, became increasingly challenging and subject to universal and domestic rules of engagement, human rights and the rule of law.
Mr Mahama, therefore, urged the military to keep abreast of the challenges of the time and seek to justify its existence by proactively evolving strategies to professionally meet these challenges.
He urged the Military High Command to endeavour to pre-empt undesirable situations and come up with appropriate strategies to tackle them.
Mr Mahama assured the GAF of the government’s commitment to mitigate the effects of the withdrawal of the British Military Assistance Training Team (BMATT).
He said the government was working towards more permanent solutions to the challenges arising as a result of the withdrawal.
Mr Mahama said as a short-term solution, being a tertiary institution, the government intended to fill the funding gap by allowing the GETFund to make provision for some logistical requirements of the college.
He said as a start the GETFund was to provide the college with a new bus to cater for the transport requirements of the students who had to shuttle to other campuses for lessons.
The Commandant of the college, Major-General K. Yankson, appealed to the government to adequately equip and improve upon the facilities of the college.
He said admission to the college continued to increase year after year with many countries in Africa seeking for a place for their armed forces.
He appealed to philanthropists and corporate institutions to also come to the aid of the college.
Major W.A. Kwabiah of the GAF was adjudged the overall best student followed by Squadron Leader Ni Ilo of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
For their prizes Major Kwabiah took away a laptop, a book and a trophy while Squadron Leader Ilo had a book, a trophy and GH¢400.00.
THE Vice-President, Mr John Dramani Mahama, has called on the personnel of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to demonstrate high ethical standards and act with greater restraint even in the face of provocation.
He said the growing popularity of democracy as a preferred model of governance was a challenge to the Armed Forces of many developing nations, including Ghana, hence the need to act responsibly.
The Vice-President made the call at a graduation ceremony of some senior officers at the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College (GAFSC) in Accra yesterday.
Fifty nine officers from the Armed Forces of 16 African countries graduated.
The countries are Ghana, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Togo.
The others are Botswana, Congo Brazzaville, La Cote d’ Ivoire, The Gambia, Mozambique, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania and Zambia.
The course is aimed at developing the analytical and communication skills of officers.
Mr Mahama said democracy carried with it the responsibility of openness, transparency, accountability, respect for human rights and the rule of law.
In this connection, he said, the conduct of military operations, including training, became increasingly challenging and subject to universal and domestic rules of engagement, human rights and the rule of law.
Mr Mahama, therefore, urged the military to keep abreast of the challenges of the time and seek to justify its existence by proactively evolving strategies to professionally meet these challenges.
He urged the Military High Command to endeavour to pre-empt undesirable situations and come up with appropriate strategies to tackle them.
Mr Mahama assured the GAF of the government’s commitment to mitigate the effects of the withdrawal of the British Military Assistance Training Team (BMATT).
He said the government was working towards more permanent solutions to the challenges arising as a result of the withdrawal.
Mr Mahama said as a short-term solution, being a tertiary institution, the government intended to fill the funding gap by allowing the GETFund to make provision for some logistical requirements of the college.
He said as a start the GETFund was to provide the college with a new bus to cater for the transport requirements of the students who had to shuttle to other campuses for lessons.
The Commandant of the college, Major-General K. Yankson, appealed to the government to adequately equip and improve upon the facilities of the college.
He said admission to the college continued to increase year after year with many countries in Africa seeking for a place for their armed forces.
He appealed to philanthropists and corporate institutions to also come to the aid of the college.
Major W.A. Kwabiah of the GAF was adjudged the overall best student followed by Squadron Leader Ni Ilo of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
For their prizes Major Kwabiah took away a laptop, a book and a trophy while Squadron Leader Ilo had a book, a trophy and GH¢400.00.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
New task force to check illegal mining, logging (July 4, 2009)
Story: Michael Donkor
AN inter-agency security committee has been set up by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to check illegal chainsaw and mining operations in the country.
The 10-member committee is chaired by the Deputy Director-General in charge of Joint Operations of the Ghana Armed Forces, Col. D.K. Mitsio.
Other members of the committee include the Director-General in charge of Police Operations, Deputy Commissioner of Police Mr John Kudalor; Lt. Col. Kodjo Awity of the GAF; Lt. Col. J. Hagan, Army Headquarters; Mr C.N.A. Akrong, Bureau of National Investigations; Mr D.K. Glover, National Security Council; Mr Benjamin Aryee, Chief Executive Officer of the Lands Commission; Mr Alex A. Boadu, Forestry Commission, and Mr G. Omane-Brimpong, National Security Council.
Inaugurating the committee, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda, said the move had become necessary in order to address the alarming rate at which the country’s forests were being depleted by illegal chainsaw operators.
He said since the Forestry Task Force was suspended in December, last year, the country’s forests had been depleted and illegal mining operations had assumed a sophisticated level.
He appealed to saw millers to put 20 per cent of their products on the domestic market, as required by law.
Col. Mitsio, on behalf of the committee, gave the assurance that they would work to achieve the set objectives as well as justify the confidence reposed in them.
AN inter-agency security committee has been set up by the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources to check illegal chainsaw and mining operations in the country.
The 10-member committee is chaired by the Deputy Director-General in charge of Joint Operations of the Ghana Armed Forces, Col. D.K. Mitsio.
Other members of the committee include the Director-General in charge of Police Operations, Deputy Commissioner of Police Mr John Kudalor; Lt. Col. Kodjo Awity of the GAF; Lt. Col. J. Hagan, Army Headquarters; Mr C.N.A. Akrong, Bureau of National Investigations; Mr D.K. Glover, National Security Council; Mr Benjamin Aryee, Chief Executive Officer of the Lands Commission; Mr Alex A. Boadu, Forestry Commission, and Mr G. Omane-Brimpong, National Security Council.
Inaugurating the committee, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Collins Dauda, said the move had become necessary in order to address the alarming rate at which the country’s forests were being depleted by illegal chainsaw operators.
He said since the Forestry Task Force was suspended in December, last year, the country’s forests had been depleted and illegal mining operations had assumed a sophisticated level.
He appealed to saw millers to put 20 per cent of their products on the domestic market, as required by law.
Col. Mitsio, on behalf of the committee, gave the assurance that they would work to achieve the set objectives as well as justify the confidence reposed in them.
Fuel Shortage Hits Accra(July 9, 2009)
Story: Michael Donkor
THERE has been a shortage of fuel in the Accra Metropolitan Area since last Monday.
This has resulted in some commercial drivers parking their vehicles, since they cannot get petrol or diesel to operate.
A visit to a number of filling stations in Accra yesterday by this reporter saw fuel attendants hanging around and only informing motorists who called at their stations that there was a shortage of fuel.
Among the stations visited were the Goil filling station near the Ghana Commercial Bank at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, So Fresh Station near the Glenns Nite Club at Adabraka, Goil station near the Trust Bank at Adabraka, the Total station near Avenue Club at the Farrar Avenue, the Mobil station near the Cedi House at Accra, and the Goil station near the Nima Roundabout.
Speaking to the Graphic in an interview at the various filling stations, the fuel attendants said they did not receive any supplies since last Saturday.
They said the little that they received had been exhausted since last Monday and they were waiting for more supply of the products.
They, however, could not give any concrete reason why there was that much shortage on the market.
At the Goil filling station at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, a fuel attendant, Olivia Azuma, said they had been idling since last Saturday.
At So Fresh filling station, Ernest Gyamfi said they also had run out of fuel since Monday and were thus waiting patiently for the next supply to sell to the public.
Asked whether the station was among those that took supplies from oil marketing companies that were indebted to the Tema Oil Refinery, he responded in the affirmative.
The situation was not different at the other stations which had the inscription “No Petrol” boldly written on their small boards placed on the pumping machines.
The Public Relations Officer of TOR, Mrs Aba Lokko, earlier told the Daily Graphic that TOR had cut off fuel supplies to 11 Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) for their indebtedness to the organisation since 2008.
She said the OMCs bought fuel from TOR for onward supply to petrol filling stations and the withdrawal of the supply to the 11 out of 56 OMCs operating in the country, resulting in a brief fuel shortage in some parts of the country.
She said the cutting down of the fuel supply was part of efforts to retrieve the moneys from the defaulting OMCs.
Mrs Lokko said TOR would not restore fuel supply to the affected companies, if they did not settle their debts.
THERE has been a shortage of fuel in the Accra Metropolitan Area since last Monday.
This has resulted in some commercial drivers parking their vehicles, since they cannot get petrol or diesel to operate.
A visit to a number of filling stations in Accra yesterday by this reporter saw fuel attendants hanging around and only informing motorists who called at their stations that there was a shortage of fuel.
Among the stations visited were the Goil filling station near the Ghana Commercial Bank at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, So Fresh Station near the Glenns Nite Club at Adabraka, Goil station near the Trust Bank at Adabraka, the Total station near Avenue Club at the Farrar Avenue, the Mobil station near the Cedi House at Accra, and the Goil station near the Nima Roundabout.
Speaking to the Graphic in an interview at the various filling stations, the fuel attendants said they did not receive any supplies since last Saturday.
They said the little that they received had been exhausted since last Monday and they were waiting for more supply of the products.
They, however, could not give any concrete reason why there was that much shortage on the market.
At the Goil filling station at the Kwame Nkrumah Circle, a fuel attendant, Olivia Azuma, said they had been idling since last Saturday.
At So Fresh filling station, Ernest Gyamfi said they also had run out of fuel since Monday and were thus waiting patiently for the next supply to sell to the public.
Asked whether the station was among those that took supplies from oil marketing companies that were indebted to the Tema Oil Refinery, he responded in the affirmative.
The situation was not different at the other stations which had the inscription “No Petrol” boldly written on their small boards placed on the pumping machines.
The Public Relations Officer of TOR, Mrs Aba Lokko, earlier told the Daily Graphic that TOR had cut off fuel supplies to 11 Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) for their indebtedness to the organisation since 2008.
She said the OMCs bought fuel from TOR for onward supply to petrol filling stations and the withdrawal of the supply to the 11 out of 56 OMCs operating in the country, resulting in a brief fuel shortage in some parts of the country.
She said the cutting down of the fuel supply was part of efforts to retrieve the moneys from the defaulting OMCs.
Mrs Lokko said TOR would not restore fuel supply to the affected companies, if they did not settle their debts.
Businesses within Airport City to be closed down(Front Page) July 8, 2009
Story: Michael Donkor
ALL businesses and offices located within the Airport City in Accra will be closed to the public from Friday evening, when US President Barack Obama arrives in the country, till Saturday, when he departs.
Additionally, flights to the Kotoka International Airport would be temporarily suspended on Friday evening and just before President Obama’s departure on Saturday.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the National Security Co-ordinator, Lt. Col. Larry Gbevlo-Lartey (retd), said the moves formed part of security measures that had been put in place for the visit of President Obama.
He, however, assured the general public that adequate measures were in place to ensure their convenience during the US President’s stay in Ghana.
Part of the Vision 2020 plan of the government, the Airport City forms part of the gateway programme, with a number of hotels built there to accommodate businessmen and investors who visit the country.
The Airport City project is also one of the many projects that the government wants to embark on to enhance the development of the Accra-Tema area.
The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) as the landowners are supposed to execute the 'Airport City' Complex and develop hospitality facilities including hotels, shopping malls, offices, parking areas and recreational areas on the 40-acre space.
Lt. Col. Gbevlo-Lartey explained that the closeness of the Airport City to the aviation wing of the KIA made it a security zone and that it was important to temporarily halt commercial activities there till President Obama comes and leaves the country.
ALL businesses and offices located within the Airport City in Accra will be closed to the public from Friday evening, when US President Barack Obama arrives in the country, till Saturday, when he departs.
Additionally, flights to the Kotoka International Airport would be temporarily suspended on Friday evening and just before President Obama’s departure on Saturday.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra yesterday, the National Security Co-ordinator, Lt. Col. Larry Gbevlo-Lartey (retd), said the moves formed part of security measures that had been put in place for the visit of President Obama.
He, however, assured the general public that adequate measures were in place to ensure their convenience during the US President’s stay in Ghana.
Part of the Vision 2020 plan of the government, the Airport City forms part of the gateway programme, with a number of hotels built there to accommodate businessmen and investors who visit the country.
The Airport City project is also one of the many projects that the government wants to embark on to enhance the development of the Accra-Tema area.
The Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) as the landowners are supposed to execute the 'Airport City' Complex and develop hospitality facilities including hotels, shopping malls, offices, parking areas and recreational areas on the 40-acre space.
Lt. Col. Gbevlo-Lartey explained that the closeness of the Airport City to the aviation wing of the KIA made it a security zone and that it was important to temporarily halt commercial activities there till President Obama comes and leaves the country.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Armed robbers ambush patrol team(June 27, 2009)
Story:Michael Donkor
A GANG of heavily armed robbers yesterday escaped with a military vehicle after they had ambushed some soldiers on an administrative duties between Takoradi and Obuasi.
The robbers later abandoned the vehicle on the outskirts of Obuasi.
Military sources said the soldiers on board the vehicle were on administrative check of armouries in the Central Western and Ashanti Regions when they were ambushed by the armed robbers.
The soldiers had concluded the inspection of the armouries in the Central and Western Regions and were on their way to the Ashanti Region when they were ambushed by the heavily armed robbers.
When the Director of the Ghana Armed Forces Public Relations, Col. E.W.K. Nibo, was contacted, he confirmed the story.
Other sources at the Military Police told the Daily Graphic that there were no arms on the vehicle that was seized by the armed robbers. The sources said that as soon as the news of the robbery got to them at dawn yesterday, personnel from the Military Police joined some infantry men from Accra to cordon off the crime scene and search other areas for the vehicle.
The sources said the robbers, who numbered about 10, wore masks and were armed with heavy offensive weapons and as the vehicle approached, they crossed the road, bringing the military vehicle to a stop, after which they attacked the soldiers in the vehicle, held them hostage and took the vehicle away.
None of the military personnel sustained any injury.
The source said investigations had been instituted into the circumstances of the robbery.
A GANG of heavily armed robbers yesterday escaped with a military vehicle after they had ambushed some soldiers on an administrative duties between Takoradi and Obuasi.
The robbers later abandoned the vehicle on the outskirts of Obuasi.
Military sources said the soldiers on board the vehicle were on administrative check of armouries in the Central Western and Ashanti Regions when they were ambushed by the armed robbers.
The soldiers had concluded the inspection of the armouries in the Central and Western Regions and were on their way to the Ashanti Region when they were ambushed by the heavily armed robbers.
When the Director of the Ghana Armed Forces Public Relations, Col. E.W.K. Nibo, was contacted, he confirmed the story.
Other sources at the Military Police told the Daily Graphic that there were no arms on the vehicle that was seized by the armed robbers. The sources said that as soon as the news of the robbery got to them at dawn yesterday, personnel from the Military Police joined some infantry men from Accra to cordon off the crime scene and search other areas for the vehicle.
The sources said the robbers, who numbered about 10, wore masks and were armed with heavy offensive weapons and as the vehicle approached, they crossed the road, bringing the military vehicle to a stop, after which they attacked the soldiers in the vehicle, held them hostage and took the vehicle away.
None of the military personnel sustained any injury.
The source said investigations had been instituted into the circumstances of the robbery.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Prez revokes ban on Nunoo-Mensah, others(June 25, 2009)
Story; Michael Donkor.
PRESIDENT John Evans Atta Mills yesterday revoked the ban imposed on certain retired service commanders of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) which barred them from visiting military installations and facilities throughout the country.
He also announced an increment in the allowance of Ghanaian peacekeepers from $27 to $30 a day.
According to him, the ban smacked of high handedness and vindictiveness, which he emphasised would not be tolerated during his term of office.
Indeed, some of the officers, such as General Arnold Quainoo and Brigadier-General Nunoo-Mensah, who were affected by the ban were present at a durbar of the GAF at Burma Camp where the President made the announcement.
It would be recalled that the government of former President Kufuor issued the ban on Generals Quainoo, Nunoo-Mensah, the late Rear-Admiral Kwadwo Owusu-Ansah and others from visiting any military installation or facility in the country.
President Mills said it was preposterous for the former regime to ban persons of such integrity who had devoted their entire lives to safeguard the country’s territorial integrity from visiting their friends and relations at the various barracks dotted across the country.
Again, the President said, it was also inhumane to restrain such high-ranking retired officers who posed no threat to the country’s security from seeking medical attention from the military hospitals.
He said the retired service commanders of the various sectors of the GAF had paid their dues to the building of the nation and should be treated with respect and not humiliation and contempt.
President Mills donated six buses to the GAF to be used to support the training of personnel in the service.
The buses will be distributed to the Ghana Military Academy, the Ghana Army, the Air Force, the Navy Recruit Training School, as well as the Army Combat and Armed Forces Training School.
PRESIDENT John Evans Atta Mills yesterday revoked the ban imposed on certain retired service commanders of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) which barred them from visiting military installations and facilities throughout the country.
He also announced an increment in the allowance of Ghanaian peacekeepers from $27 to $30 a day.
According to him, the ban smacked of high handedness and vindictiveness, which he emphasised would not be tolerated during his term of office.
Indeed, some of the officers, such as General Arnold Quainoo and Brigadier-General Nunoo-Mensah, who were affected by the ban were present at a durbar of the GAF at Burma Camp where the President made the announcement.
It would be recalled that the government of former President Kufuor issued the ban on Generals Quainoo, Nunoo-Mensah, the late Rear-Admiral Kwadwo Owusu-Ansah and others from visiting any military installation or facility in the country.
President Mills said it was preposterous for the former regime to ban persons of such integrity who had devoted their entire lives to safeguard the country’s territorial integrity from visiting their friends and relations at the various barracks dotted across the country.
Again, the President said, it was also inhumane to restrain such high-ranking retired officers who posed no threat to the country’s security from seeking medical attention from the military hospitals.
He said the retired service commanders of the various sectors of the GAF had paid their dues to the building of the nation and should be treated with respect and not humiliation and contempt.
President Mills donated six buses to the GAF to be used to support the training of personnel in the service.
The buses will be distributed to the Ghana Military Academy, the Ghana Army, the Air Force, the Navy Recruit Training School, as well as the Army Combat and Armed Forces Training School.
Gov't won't interfere with Force's professional integrity, Prez Assures (Front Page) June 25 2009
Story: Michael Donkor
THE President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, yesterday paid his first official visit to the headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) at Burma Camp and assured the soldiers that the government would not undertake any covert or overt actions that would tamper with their professional integrity.
He noted that considerable political interference and tempering with the GAF’s activities in the past created factions and deep-seated animosity between the officers and the other ranks which, in the long run, compromised professional integrity and threatened the country’s democracy.
Addressing a durbar of the GAF held in his honour, President Mills explained that the government would always accord officers, men and women of the respective security agencies in the country respect and dignity and not arrogance and contempt.
The durbar also attracted retired service commanders, including General Arnold Quainoo, General Joshua Hamidu and General Erskine.
“I have never doubted the professional integrity of the GAF and I will strive within the constraints of the national economy to enhance their pedigree,” he said.
According to him, the government had initiated a number of measures intended to provide logistical support and basic social and economic facilities for the various units of the GAF.
Those, President Mills explained, included potable water, accommodation, rehabilitation of clinics at the various barracks and improvement in their wages and salaries.
“The government has to implement far-reaching policies to boost the morale of personnel of the GAF and we have taken measures in that direction,” he said.
He said it was important for the government to equip personnel of the GAF to discharge their obligations and responsibilities of safeguarding the country against aggression and upholding and protecting the Fourth Republican Constitution.
President Mills paid glowing tribute to the GAF for the impartial role they played during the 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections.
He said their steadfastness went a long way to prevent the polls from degenerating into confusion and plunging the country into conflict.
“We are proud of our Armed Forces. You remain the life insurance of our nation,” the President emphasised.
He reminded the gathering that the oil find in the country would bring in its wake a lot of challenges and the GAF would be prevailed upon to play a monitoring role to avoid plunder and abuse of the resource.
In his opening remarks, the Minister of Defence, General Henry Smith (retd), said the GAF had a unique role to play in the country’s social and economic development.
“ It is the resolve of the GAF to pursue this agenda with all the urgency and professionalism at their disposal,” the minister said.
He said in view of the enormous challenges facing the GAF in the present century, especially with the oil find and the need to protect the country’s marine resources, the institution was embarking on a major review to redirect its scope of activities.
That, General Smith pointed out, included restructuring in order to deal holistically with the complex defence and security issues that existed today.
THE President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, yesterday paid his first official visit to the headquarters of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) at Burma Camp and assured the soldiers that the government would not undertake any covert or overt actions that would tamper with their professional integrity.
He noted that considerable political interference and tempering with the GAF’s activities in the past created factions and deep-seated animosity between the officers and the other ranks which, in the long run, compromised professional integrity and threatened the country’s democracy.
Addressing a durbar of the GAF held in his honour, President Mills explained that the government would always accord officers, men and women of the respective security agencies in the country respect and dignity and not arrogance and contempt.
The durbar also attracted retired service commanders, including General Arnold Quainoo, General Joshua Hamidu and General Erskine.
“I have never doubted the professional integrity of the GAF and I will strive within the constraints of the national economy to enhance their pedigree,” he said.
According to him, the government had initiated a number of measures intended to provide logistical support and basic social and economic facilities for the various units of the GAF.
Those, President Mills explained, included potable water, accommodation, rehabilitation of clinics at the various barracks and improvement in their wages and salaries.
“The government has to implement far-reaching policies to boost the morale of personnel of the GAF and we have taken measures in that direction,” he said.
He said it was important for the government to equip personnel of the GAF to discharge their obligations and responsibilities of safeguarding the country against aggression and upholding and protecting the Fourth Republican Constitution.
President Mills paid glowing tribute to the GAF for the impartial role they played during the 2008 presidential and parliamentary elections.
He said their steadfastness went a long way to prevent the polls from degenerating into confusion and plunging the country into conflict.
“We are proud of our Armed Forces. You remain the life insurance of our nation,” the President emphasised.
He reminded the gathering that the oil find in the country would bring in its wake a lot of challenges and the GAF would be prevailed upon to play a monitoring role to avoid plunder and abuse of the resource.
In his opening remarks, the Minister of Defence, General Henry Smith (retd), said the GAF had a unique role to play in the country’s social and economic development.
“ It is the resolve of the GAF to pursue this agenda with all the urgency and professionalism at their disposal,” the minister said.
He said in view of the enormous challenges facing the GAF in the present century, especially with the oil find and the need to protect the country’s marine resources, the institution was embarking on a major review to redirect its scope of activities.
That, General Smith pointed out, included restructuring in order to deal holistically with the complex defence and security issues that existed today.
PURC committed to ensuring quality service’(June 25, 2009)
Story: Michael Donkor
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) says it will continue to ensure that utility providers offer quality services to the public.
In view of that, it will continue to intensify its monitoring role for the delivery of effective and quality services to the public, Mr Stephen Adu, the Executive Secretary of the commission, has disclosed.
Addressing a workshop organised by the PURC for stakeholders at Akosombo in the Eastern Region at the weekend, Mr Adu said although the utility providers were faced with some constraints and challenges, that did not constitute a ground for them to provide services below standard.
He gave the assurance that as part of its objectives, the commission would assist the utility providers to overcome their challenges and be able to deliver up to standard.
The Director of Legal Affairs of the PURC, Mr Emmanuel Sekor, said the commission would soon come up with guidelines to regulate the operations of water tankers.
He said that was to ensure that water tankers provided quality services for the public.
He explained that the guidelines would include monitoring and inspecting the water tankers before they delivered water to their prospective customers.
The Chief Manager in charge of Operations at the Ghana Water Company Limited, Mr E. K. Garbah, said the Accra Tema Metropolitan Area (ATMA) rural projects to supply water to Somanya, the Akwapim Ridge, Atimpoku, Frankadua, Dawhenya, Dawa, Kpone, Michel Camp and Dodowa would begin this year.
He said the projects were expected to be completed in the middle of 2011 at the a cost of $71 million.
An official of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Mr Abdul Noor Wahab, said the construction of the second transmission line between Kumasi and Obuasi would be completed in September this year.
He said the VRA would also construct its third bulk supply point for Accra at Agyirigano and it would be completed in 2011.
The Operations Manager of the Ghana Grid Company, Mr Mark Baah, gave the assurance that the company would continue to improve on its services of supplying power to the Electricity Company of Ghana for distribution.
A media consultant, Mr Berifi Apenteng, called on the media to endeavour to be accurate in their reportage, particularly what concerned utilities in the country.
He said utilities were the lifeline of the general public and any inaccurate or alarming reportage on them could create problems for the entire nation.
He said the role of the media was to educate, inform and entertain and added that those roles should not be undermined or underestimated by the people.
The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) says it will continue to ensure that utility providers offer quality services to the public.
In view of that, it will continue to intensify its monitoring role for the delivery of effective and quality services to the public, Mr Stephen Adu, the Executive Secretary of the commission, has disclosed.
Addressing a workshop organised by the PURC for stakeholders at Akosombo in the Eastern Region at the weekend, Mr Adu said although the utility providers were faced with some constraints and challenges, that did not constitute a ground for them to provide services below standard.
He gave the assurance that as part of its objectives, the commission would assist the utility providers to overcome their challenges and be able to deliver up to standard.
The Director of Legal Affairs of the PURC, Mr Emmanuel Sekor, said the commission would soon come up with guidelines to regulate the operations of water tankers.
He said that was to ensure that water tankers provided quality services for the public.
He explained that the guidelines would include monitoring and inspecting the water tankers before they delivered water to their prospective customers.
The Chief Manager in charge of Operations at the Ghana Water Company Limited, Mr E. K. Garbah, said the Accra Tema Metropolitan Area (ATMA) rural projects to supply water to Somanya, the Akwapim Ridge, Atimpoku, Frankadua, Dawhenya, Dawa, Kpone, Michel Camp and Dodowa would begin this year.
He said the projects were expected to be completed in the middle of 2011 at the a cost of $71 million.
An official of the Volta River Authority (VRA), Mr Abdul Noor Wahab, said the construction of the second transmission line between Kumasi and Obuasi would be completed in September this year.
He said the VRA would also construct its third bulk supply point for Accra at Agyirigano and it would be completed in 2011.
The Operations Manager of the Ghana Grid Company, Mr Mark Baah, gave the assurance that the company would continue to improve on its services of supplying power to the Electricity Company of Ghana for distribution.
A media consultant, Mr Berifi Apenteng, called on the media to endeavour to be accurate in their reportage, particularly what concerned utilities in the country.
He said utilities were the lifeline of the general public and any inaccurate or alarming reportage on them could create problems for the entire nation.
He said the role of the media was to educate, inform and entertain and added that those roles should not be undermined or underestimated by the people.
Gov't gives support to 50 assemblies(June 24, 2009) Centre Spread
Story: Michael Donkor
The government has allocated $31.9 million to be disbursed to 50 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) for the development of their respective areas.
The MMDAs were selected to benefit from the district development facility because they met the minimum conditions of a performance assessment which was conducted in 2006.
The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yileh Chireh, announced this when he took his turn at the Meet-the-Press Series held in Accra yesterday.
Mr Chireh explained that the first tranche of the facility would be disbursed next month while the second would be in the last quarter of the year.
He said the assessment for 2007 had been compiled and distributed to MMDAs while the next assessment would be conducted in September this year and represent the assessment for 2008.
Mr Chireh hinted that the revised Environmental Health and Sanitation Policy would soon be approved by cabinet to pave the way for its implementation.
He said when approved, some of the key challenges such as capacity development, information, education and communication, legislation and regulation, sustainable financing and cost recovery would be addressed.
Mr Chireh said the government had identified deepening local-level democracy, accelerating decentralisation and local-level development and empowerment as three main areas to promote in order to achieve good governance at the local level.
He said the ministry would also introduce a concept to be known as “ Town Hall Meetings” which would aim at creating a platform for continuous interaction between the government and communities in the districts.
He explained that the concept was to enable municipal, metropolitan and district chief executives (MMDCEs) to hold periodic meetings with people in their communities to educate them on the government’s developmental programmes and policies, and also listen to their concerns.
He said it was also to enable people at the grass roots demand accountability from those at the helm of affairs in the districts.
Mr Chireh said a broad national stakeholders conference on decentralisation would soon be held to review the 20 years of decentralisation implementation and make proposals for the way forward.
The government has allocated $31.9 million to be disbursed to 50 metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) for the development of their respective areas.
The MMDAs were selected to benefit from the district development facility because they met the minimum conditions of a performance assessment which was conducted in 2006.
The Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Joseph Yileh Chireh, announced this when he took his turn at the Meet-the-Press Series held in Accra yesterday.
Mr Chireh explained that the first tranche of the facility would be disbursed next month while the second would be in the last quarter of the year.
He said the assessment for 2007 had been compiled and distributed to MMDAs while the next assessment would be conducted in September this year and represent the assessment for 2008.
Mr Chireh hinted that the revised Environmental Health and Sanitation Policy would soon be approved by cabinet to pave the way for its implementation.
He said when approved, some of the key challenges such as capacity development, information, education and communication, legislation and regulation, sustainable financing and cost recovery would be addressed.
Mr Chireh said the government had identified deepening local-level democracy, accelerating decentralisation and local-level development and empowerment as three main areas to promote in order to achieve good governance at the local level.
He said the ministry would also introduce a concept to be known as “ Town Hall Meetings” which would aim at creating a platform for continuous interaction between the government and communities in the districts.
He explained that the concept was to enable municipal, metropolitan and district chief executives (MMDCEs) to hold periodic meetings with people in their communities to educate them on the government’s developmental programmes and policies, and also listen to their concerns.
He said it was also to enable people at the grass roots demand accountability from those at the helm of affairs in the districts.
Mr Chireh said a broad national stakeholders conference on decentralisation would soon be held to review the 20 years of decentralisation implementation and make proposals for the way forward.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Board members should stick to their roles (Page 32) June 11, 2009
Story: Michael Donkor
THE Minister of Transport, Mr Mike Hammah, has charged board chairmen of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to stick to their roles and not to take over the day-to-day running of the institutions.
He said the situation where board chairpersons and members virtually took over management and the day-to-day running of such institutions should be avoided.
Mr Hammah made the call when he inaugurated three reconstituted boards under the Ministry of Transport in Accra at the weekend.
They were the board of directors of the Airport Company Limited, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).
He noted that the boards served as chaperons of management but cautioned that care should be taken so that as of a ship, the boards would stick to their roles as captains whiles the steering of the ship was left to the rest of the crew.
He said the realisation of the mission and vision of the ministry for the benefit of the people and the country could be possible only by a co-operative spirit.
Mr Hammah urged the GCAA board to ensure that the aviation sector was restored to the “FAA category one status”, seek title to all aviation lands and adopt strategies to effectively operationalise the hub concept, as well as ensure the implementation of the Kotoka International Airport phase III rehabilitation project.
For the Maritime sector, he urged the board of directors of GPHA to dredge the ports of Tema and Takoradi to cater for modern generation cargo vessels and review the port master plan.
Mr Hammah also urged the board to develop Boankra near Kumasi to serve as a distribution and consolidation centre for cargo for the northern part of the country and their landlocked neighbours.
He said it had come to his notice that a lot of misprocurement had taken place in some of these establishment and urged them to critically look at these issues and address them as quickly as possible.
He said a critical point worthy of note was that of the social democratic nature of the current administration.
He urged them to be guided by this in the formulation of their programmes, plans and policies, always bearing in mind that the government’s development plan was informed by the welfare of the people.
The acting Executive Chairman of the State Enterprises Commission, Mr Yao Klinogo, appealed to the board of directors to be guided by the Companies Code, 1963, act 179; Companies Act, Act 461, 1993 and Subvented Agencies Act, Act 706, 2006 in their operations.
He urged the board members to bring their individual expertise to bear on all their leadership and direction during their tenure.
The Board Chairman of GCAA, Wing Commander Andy Mensah, on behalf of his colleagues pledged their commitment and readiness to work assiduously to turn their various establishments around.
THE Minister of Transport, Mr Mike Hammah, has charged board chairmen of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) to stick to their roles and not to take over the day-to-day running of the institutions.
He said the situation where board chairpersons and members virtually took over management and the day-to-day running of such institutions should be avoided.
Mr Hammah made the call when he inaugurated three reconstituted boards under the Ministry of Transport in Accra at the weekend.
They were the board of directors of the Airport Company Limited, Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA).
He noted that the boards served as chaperons of management but cautioned that care should be taken so that as of a ship, the boards would stick to their roles as captains whiles the steering of the ship was left to the rest of the crew.
He said the realisation of the mission and vision of the ministry for the benefit of the people and the country could be possible only by a co-operative spirit.
Mr Hammah urged the GCAA board to ensure that the aviation sector was restored to the “FAA category one status”, seek title to all aviation lands and adopt strategies to effectively operationalise the hub concept, as well as ensure the implementation of the Kotoka International Airport phase III rehabilitation project.
For the Maritime sector, he urged the board of directors of GPHA to dredge the ports of Tema and Takoradi to cater for modern generation cargo vessels and review the port master plan.
Mr Hammah also urged the board to develop Boankra near Kumasi to serve as a distribution and consolidation centre for cargo for the northern part of the country and their landlocked neighbours.
He said it had come to his notice that a lot of misprocurement had taken place in some of these establishment and urged them to critically look at these issues and address them as quickly as possible.
He said a critical point worthy of note was that of the social democratic nature of the current administration.
He urged them to be guided by this in the formulation of their programmes, plans and policies, always bearing in mind that the government’s development plan was informed by the welfare of the people.
The acting Executive Chairman of the State Enterprises Commission, Mr Yao Klinogo, appealed to the board of directors to be guided by the Companies Code, 1963, act 179; Companies Act, Act 461, 1993 and Subvented Agencies Act, Act 706, 2006 in their operations.
He urged the board members to bring their individual expertise to bear on all their leadership and direction during their tenure.
The Board Chairman of GCAA, Wing Commander Andy Mensah, on behalf of his colleagues pledged their commitment and readiness to work assiduously to turn their various establishments around.
Develop framework for use of ICT-Health experts urged
Story: Michael Donkor
Vice-President John Dramani Mahama has called on health experts in Africa to develop a framework that will enhance the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to make health service accessible to the people, particularly those in the rural areas.
With the advent of mobile telephony, he said simple health messages could be devised and communicated to the people on daily basis.
He said Africa needed such a framework to review its policies and strategies for achieving its major health goals beyond the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Mr Mahama made the call at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Annual Ministerial Review Conference in Accra yesterday.
The two-day conference is being attended by members of the Economic Commission for Africa, African Ministers of Health, and representatives of United Nations (UN) bodies.
Mr Mahama, therefore, called on all the members of ECOSOC to consider the meeting as one that would define how they in Africa would deploy electronic health solution for the sake of their people.
He said there was the need for an African position on the way and manner ICT must be deployed on the continent.
The Vice-President charged them to avoid a situation where solutions were not based on African problems and challenges but rather on other systems which did not have identical challenges.
Mr Mahama said he had seen proposals that aimed at high-end telemedicine technology but which did not take into account the existing human and technical resource at both ends of the set-up, the cost involved, and whether they addressed their priorities.
He said most African countries had regrettably made slow processes in the application of electronic health solutions probably because investments in this area had been misdirected by hard talking technology-oriented vendors who did not understand their circumstances and yet claimed to hold the solutions to their problems.
The Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Madam-Sherry Ayittey, stressed the need for ICT to be used to improve the healthcare needs of women and children.
She said such technology should also be cost-effective and affordable and urged the government to collaborate with ICT experts to explore the power of the technology for the benefit of all.
The Minister of Health, Dr George Yankey, appealed to health experts to make ehealth a necessary facilitator in healthcare delivery.
The President of ECOSOC, Madam Sylvie Lucas, said the objective of ehealth was to improve primary healthcare delivery.
She urged African governments to seek the opportunity of ICT to advance health care in their countries.
The Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Mr Thomas Stelzer, observed that ehealth could be used to address challenges such as lack of infrastructure, heavy disease burden and brain drain, in a comprehensive manner.
It could help scale health care appropriately to each economy and also enable a transformation from disease management to a focus on proactive wellness, he added.
Vice-President John Dramani Mahama has called on health experts in Africa to develop a framework that will enhance the use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to make health service accessible to the people, particularly those in the rural areas.
With the advent of mobile telephony, he said simple health messages could be devised and communicated to the people on daily basis.
He said Africa needed such a framework to review its policies and strategies for achieving its major health goals beyond the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).
Mr Mahama made the call at the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) Annual Ministerial Review Conference in Accra yesterday.
The two-day conference is being attended by members of the Economic Commission for Africa, African Ministers of Health, and representatives of United Nations (UN) bodies.
Mr Mahama, therefore, called on all the members of ECOSOC to consider the meeting as one that would define how they in Africa would deploy electronic health solution for the sake of their people.
He said there was the need for an African position on the way and manner ICT must be deployed on the continent.
The Vice-President charged them to avoid a situation where solutions were not based on African problems and challenges but rather on other systems which did not have identical challenges.
Mr Mahama said he had seen proposals that aimed at high-end telemedicine technology but which did not take into account the existing human and technical resource at both ends of the set-up, the cost involved, and whether they addressed their priorities.
He said most African countries had regrettably made slow processes in the application of electronic health solutions probably because investments in this area had been misdirected by hard talking technology-oriented vendors who did not understand their circumstances and yet claimed to hold the solutions to their problems.
The Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Madam-Sherry Ayittey, stressed the need for ICT to be used to improve the healthcare needs of women and children.
She said such technology should also be cost-effective and affordable and urged the government to collaborate with ICT experts to explore the power of the technology for the benefit of all.
The Minister of Health, Dr George Yankey, appealed to health experts to make ehealth a necessary facilitator in healthcare delivery.
The President of ECOSOC, Madam Sylvie Lucas, said the objective of ehealth was to improve primary healthcare delivery.
She urged African governments to seek the opportunity of ICT to advance health care in their countries.
The Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Mr Thomas Stelzer, observed that ehealth could be used to address challenges such as lack of infrastructure, heavy disease burden and brain drain, in a comprehensive manner.
It could help scale health care appropriately to each economy and also enable a transformation from disease management to a focus on proactive wellness, he added.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Siege at BNI as Security officials quiz Kwadwo Mpiani(June 3, 2009) Front Page
Michael Donkor
WHAT began as an invitation of former Chief of Staff, Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) yesterday turned into a political stand-off at the office of the BNI.
Scores of former New Patriotic Party (NPP) ministers and Members of Parliament, as well as hundreds of their supporters, thronged the BNI headquarters to express solidarity with the former Chief of Staff who was being questioned on what was described by the Information Ministry as “wide range of issues”.
By press time yesterday, the vigil was on with the defiant party faithful ignoring all pleas to vacate the scene.
The former ministers and the loyalists blocked the main road chanting and singing war songs and demanded the whereabouts of the former Chief of Staff.
As the interrogation went on, scores more of the party loyalists arrived in buses creating a scene at the entrance of the BNI.
At the Ministry of Information, a deputy Minister of Information, Mr Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwah, obliged Graphic with some explanation indicating that the agitation of the former ministers and party loyalists was unnecessary and that the questioning of the former Chief of Staff was being carried in a friendly atmosphere.
He said what was being done was in line with the government’s policy to ensure that certain matters that bordered on national security were properly clarified.
According to him, Mr Mpiani was invited somewhere last week by the BNI to answer questions on a variety of issues.
He said he failed to honour the invitation but told the BNI that he would instead report on Monday but failed again.
He said the former Chief of Staff reported at about 11 a.m. in the company of 20 former ministers and his counsels, Mr Yoni Kulendi and Mr Egbert Faibille Junior, and were later joined by a female lawyer whose name was given as Ms Hamida Nuhu.
He said minutes after, the 20 former ministers left the former Chief of Staff in the company of his counsels
According to the deputy minister, Mr Mpiani rejected the food offered him by the BNI but accepted that which was brought later by the female lawyer, Ms Nuhu.
Asked why Mr Mpiani was being held by the BNI for that length of time, he said Mr “Mpiani was answering questions on wide range of issues and that there were intermittent breaks in the interrogation of the former Chief of Staff.
Other security sources, however, hinted that Mr Mpiani was being interrogated on his tenure as the Chief of Staff in the Kufuor administration and his role in the handling of Ghana@50 funds.
The Greater Accra Police Regional Commander, ACP Rose Atinga, later joined the security at the place and addressed the gathering and appealed for calm, assuring them of the security of Mr Mpiani.
However, her appeal for them to leave the security to do their work, made little impression.
WHAT began as an invitation of former Chief of Staff, Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, by the Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) yesterday turned into a political stand-off at the office of the BNI.
Scores of former New Patriotic Party (NPP) ministers and Members of Parliament, as well as hundreds of their supporters, thronged the BNI headquarters to express solidarity with the former Chief of Staff who was being questioned on what was described by the Information Ministry as “wide range of issues”.
By press time yesterday, the vigil was on with the defiant party faithful ignoring all pleas to vacate the scene.
The former ministers and the loyalists blocked the main road chanting and singing war songs and demanded the whereabouts of the former Chief of Staff.
As the interrogation went on, scores more of the party loyalists arrived in buses creating a scene at the entrance of the BNI.
At the Ministry of Information, a deputy Minister of Information, Mr Samuel Okudzeto-Ablakwah, obliged Graphic with some explanation indicating that the agitation of the former ministers and party loyalists was unnecessary and that the questioning of the former Chief of Staff was being carried in a friendly atmosphere.
He said what was being done was in line with the government’s policy to ensure that certain matters that bordered on national security were properly clarified.
According to him, Mr Mpiani was invited somewhere last week by the BNI to answer questions on a variety of issues.
He said he failed to honour the invitation but told the BNI that he would instead report on Monday but failed again.
He said the former Chief of Staff reported at about 11 a.m. in the company of 20 former ministers and his counsels, Mr Yoni Kulendi and Mr Egbert Faibille Junior, and were later joined by a female lawyer whose name was given as Ms Hamida Nuhu.
He said minutes after, the 20 former ministers left the former Chief of Staff in the company of his counsels
According to the deputy minister, Mr Mpiani rejected the food offered him by the BNI but accepted that which was brought later by the female lawyer, Ms Nuhu.
Asked why Mr Mpiani was being held by the BNI for that length of time, he said Mr “Mpiani was answering questions on wide range of issues and that there were intermittent breaks in the interrogation of the former Chief of Staff.
Other security sources, however, hinted that Mr Mpiani was being interrogated on his tenure as the Chief of Staff in the Kufuor administration and his role in the handling of Ghana@50 funds.
The Greater Accra Police Regional Commander, ACP Rose Atinga, later joined the security at the place and addressed the gathering and appealed for calm, assuring them of the security of Mr Mpiani.
However, her appeal for them to leave the security to do their work, made little impression.
Rawlings witnesses June 4 wreath-laying ceremony(June 5, 2009) Political Page
Story: Michael Donkor
FORMER President J.J. Rawlings yesterday joined scores of dignitaries at a wreath-laying ceremony held at the revolutionary square to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the June 4, 1979 uprising.
Other dignitaries who witnessed the event were the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, former Minister of State and leading member of the NDC, Mr Vallis Achianu, the former Chief Fire Officer, Lt Col. Tagoe (retd), the Secretary of the Greater Accra Market Women Association, Madam Mercy Needjan, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashietey.
The rest were Lt. Gen. Arnold Quainoo, former General Officer Commanding the Ghana Armed Forces, and Madam Roberta Hoppenba.
A number of cadres and some retired soldiers as well as functionaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) were also present at the ceremony.
As early as 7 a.m., people from all walks of life started gathering at the revolutionary square, opposite the Flagstaff House, to witness the ceremony.
The grounds for the ceremony were also decorated with ribbons, while the national flag and four flags, bearing the colours of the June 4 were hoisted at the venue to give more meaning to the event. Wreaths were laid at the Revolutionary Square.
Mr Vallis Achianu, a leading member of the NDC, laid one of the wreaths on behalf of the security agencies, Lt Col. Tagoe (retd) laid one on behalf of the fallen heroes, the Secretary of the Greater Accra Market Women Association, Madam Mercy Needjan, laid one while the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Ashietey, laid the last one on behalf of the people of Ghana.
Lt Gen Quainoo and Madam Roberta Hoppenba jointly lighted the perpetual flame.
The cadres then embarked on a route march while the other members continued to Kasoa in the Central Region for a public lecture on the occasion.
Thirty years ago, former President Rawlings, then a junior officer of the Ghana Air Force, led a group of soldiers to overthrow the Supreme Military Council led by Lt General F.W.K. Akuffo.
The June 4 uprising ushered into the country’s history a revolution which lasted for 11 years.
FORMER President J.J. Rawlings yesterday joined scores of dignitaries at a wreath-laying ceremony held at the revolutionary square to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the June 4, 1979 uprising.
Other dignitaries who witnessed the event were the former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang-Rawlings, Alhaji Huudu Yahaya, former Minister of State and leading member of the NDC, Mr Vallis Achianu, the former Chief Fire Officer, Lt Col. Tagoe (retd), the Secretary of the Greater Accra Market Women Association, Madam Mercy Needjan, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Armah Ashietey.
The rest were Lt. Gen. Arnold Quainoo, former General Officer Commanding the Ghana Armed Forces, and Madam Roberta Hoppenba.
A number of cadres and some retired soldiers as well as functionaries of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) were also present at the ceremony.
As early as 7 a.m., people from all walks of life started gathering at the revolutionary square, opposite the Flagstaff House, to witness the ceremony.
The grounds for the ceremony were also decorated with ribbons, while the national flag and four flags, bearing the colours of the June 4 were hoisted at the venue to give more meaning to the event. Wreaths were laid at the Revolutionary Square.
Mr Vallis Achianu, a leading member of the NDC, laid one of the wreaths on behalf of the security agencies, Lt Col. Tagoe (retd) laid one on behalf of the fallen heroes, the Secretary of the Greater Accra Market Women Association, Madam Mercy Needjan, laid one while the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Ashietey, laid the last one on behalf of the people of Ghana.
Lt Gen Quainoo and Madam Roberta Hoppenba jointly lighted the perpetual flame.
The cadres then embarked on a route march while the other members continued to Kasoa in the Central Region for a public lecture on the occasion.
Thirty years ago, former President Rawlings, then a junior officer of the Ghana Air Force, led a group of soldiers to overthrow the Supreme Military Council led by Lt General F.W.K. Akuffo.
The June 4 uprising ushered into the country’s history a revolution which lasted for 11 years.
Industrial Activities in CBD to be relocated(June 9, 2009) Centre Spread
Story:Michael Donkor
SOME commercial and industrial activities in part of the central business district (CBD) of Accra are to be relocated to Adjen Kotoku to facilitate the completion of work on the Korle Lagoon Ecological Restoration Project (KLERP).
Places to be affected include the Agbogbloshie Market, parts of the Timber Market and squatters around the KLERP.
The Chief Technical Adviser at the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Sam Baidoo, who disclosed this, explained that the exercise was to halt the dumping of waste into the upstream canals and the catchment areas of the Korle Lagoon.
He said the main work on the KLERP had been completed and would be handed over to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) in June next year after the redevelopment of 800 acres of the land at Adjen Kotoku for the resettlement exercise.
Previously a clean stretch of water that flowed into the Atlantic, the Korle Lagoon was, at a point, described by environmentalists as one of the most polluted places on earth as the natural depression was converted into a cesspool for most of the city's industrial and human waste.
Owing to the pollution, no living thing, animal or plant, has been able to grow in it for years and its stench has enveloped adjoining suburbs whose inhabitants, because they have no sanitation facilities, have turned the lagoon into a giant latrine.
Speaking during a working visit to the project site by the sector Minister, Mr Albert Abongo, yesterday, Mr Baidoo said what the contractors were doing was just a maintenance of the lagoon.
He said a unit would be established by the ministry by June next year which would be placed under the AMA to maintain and manage the lagoon.
He said as part of the overall project master plan, the ministry, in collaboration with the Ministries of Tourism and Local Government, acquired about 800 acres of land at Adjen Kotoku, about 25 km from the CBD on the Accra-Nsawam road to develop a new commercial and industrial area to facilitate the relocation of commercial activities from Old Fadama.
He explained that the location was chosen for the project because of its proximity to both the Accra-Nsawam road and the railway line, as well as the availability and fairly level nature of land.
He said when completed, bulk food transported from the northern part of the country would be intercepted at Adjen Kotoku to help ease the traffic situation in the centre of the capital.
Briefing the minister, the Project Engineer, Mr Ewan Techblanche, said the redevelopment of Adjen Kotoku, which was the fourth stage of the project, was being tackled in earnest.
He said the main components of the fourth stage of the project were the construction of roads, the provision of potable water and the extension of electricity and underground sewerage infrastructure.
He said currently the construction of roads was near completion and the entire project was expected to be completed in June next year.
Mr Abongo commended the contractors for good work done so far and urged them to speed up work for the early completion of the entire project.
He gave the assurance that the government would assist in any to ensure that the project went on smoothly.
The project is being undertaken with funds from Kuwait, BADEA and the government.
The original objective, as captured in the terms of reference for consultancy services in 1994, was to address the main cause of extensive and widespread flooding which had affected the entire drainage network in Accra, resulting in serious perennial flooding for the past 20 years, leading to loss of lives and property.
SOME commercial and industrial activities in part of the central business district (CBD) of Accra are to be relocated to Adjen Kotoku to facilitate the completion of work on the Korle Lagoon Ecological Restoration Project (KLERP).
Places to be affected include the Agbogbloshie Market, parts of the Timber Market and squatters around the KLERP.
The Chief Technical Adviser at the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Sam Baidoo, who disclosed this, explained that the exercise was to halt the dumping of waste into the upstream canals and the catchment areas of the Korle Lagoon.
He said the main work on the KLERP had been completed and would be handed over to the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) in June next year after the redevelopment of 800 acres of the land at Adjen Kotoku for the resettlement exercise.
Previously a clean stretch of water that flowed into the Atlantic, the Korle Lagoon was, at a point, described by environmentalists as one of the most polluted places on earth as the natural depression was converted into a cesspool for most of the city's industrial and human waste.
Owing to the pollution, no living thing, animal or plant, has been able to grow in it for years and its stench has enveloped adjoining suburbs whose inhabitants, because they have no sanitation facilities, have turned the lagoon into a giant latrine.
Speaking during a working visit to the project site by the sector Minister, Mr Albert Abongo, yesterday, Mr Baidoo said what the contractors were doing was just a maintenance of the lagoon.
He said a unit would be established by the ministry by June next year which would be placed under the AMA to maintain and manage the lagoon.
He said as part of the overall project master plan, the ministry, in collaboration with the Ministries of Tourism and Local Government, acquired about 800 acres of land at Adjen Kotoku, about 25 km from the CBD on the Accra-Nsawam road to develop a new commercial and industrial area to facilitate the relocation of commercial activities from Old Fadama.
He explained that the location was chosen for the project because of its proximity to both the Accra-Nsawam road and the railway line, as well as the availability and fairly level nature of land.
He said when completed, bulk food transported from the northern part of the country would be intercepted at Adjen Kotoku to help ease the traffic situation in the centre of the capital.
Briefing the minister, the Project Engineer, Mr Ewan Techblanche, said the redevelopment of Adjen Kotoku, which was the fourth stage of the project, was being tackled in earnest.
He said the main components of the fourth stage of the project were the construction of roads, the provision of potable water and the extension of electricity and underground sewerage infrastructure.
He said currently the construction of roads was near completion and the entire project was expected to be completed in June next year.
Mr Abongo commended the contractors for good work done so far and urged them to speed up work for the early completion of the entire project.
He gave the assurance that the government would assist in any to ensure that the project went on smoothly.
The project is being undertaken with funds from Kuwait, BADEA and the government.
The original objective, as captured in the terms of reference for consultancy services in 1994, was to address the main cause of extensive and widespread flooding which had affected the entire drainage network in Accra, resulting in serious perennial flooding for the past 20 years, leading to loss of lives and property.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Ghanaian Peacekeepers for Chad(Page 43) March 16, 2009
Story:Michael Donkor
THE Ghana Armed Forces will deploy its first battalion of peacekeepers to Chad next month to maintain peace and security there.
Consequently 70 personnel, made up of three officers and 67 other ranks, were expected in Chad last Saturday to prepare the grounds for the advance party to arrive.
The Commanding officer of the Ghanbatt, Lt. Col. Barima Brako Owusu, announced this last Wednesday when the Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. J.H. Smith, toured the Bundase Camp where the battalion is undergoing training exercises for the trip.
He said the deployment would form part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission (MUNICRAT) undertaking peace support operations in Chad.
Lt Col. Owusu said 800 soldiers made up of 43 officers and 757 other ranks would be deployed to Chad.
He said the advance party of 130 all ranks would be deployed on April 15 and would be followed by the rest of the troops.
Lt Col Owusu said among the duties that the soldiers would be tasked to undertake were patrols, escort of very important personalities, force protection and building of civil military relations.
He said prior to their preparations, a six man team visited Chad to recce the area of operation.
Lt Col. Brako said the reports brought by the team indicated that the general situation was calm but that of Eastern Chad tended to be precarious and unpredictable.
He said there were allegations of both Chadian and Sudanese governments sponsoring rebels in neighbouring countries.
Earlier during the tour, Lt Col. Owusu said the firing range and the grenade/small arms training grounds at Bundase were being elevated to the status of a modern hi-tech shooting range for the Ghana Armed Forces.
Lt. Gen. Smith assured the Ghanbatt that they would be provided with the necessary logistics for the team to perform well.
In another development, the German Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Marius Haas, called on the Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Smith, in his office at Burma Camp in Accra.
During the visit, the minister recalled the relations between the two countries which he said dated back to the 1960’s.
He said the past few years had however been fruitful, and called for the relations to be deepened.
The ambassador pledged the continuous support of Germany to Ghana.
He said German Development Co-operation was based on the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy, adding that the focal areas of assistance were in good governance, employment-oriented private sector development, food security and agriculture.
THE Ghana Armed Forces will deploy its first battalion of peacekeepers to Chad next month to maintain peace and security there.
Consequently 70 personnel, made up of three officers and 67 other ranks, were expected in Chad last Saturday to prepare the grounds for the advance party to arrive.
The Commanding officer of the Ghanbatt, Lt. Col. Barima Brako Owusu, announced this last Wednesday when the Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. J.H. Smith, toured the Bundase Camp where the battalion is undergoing training exercises for the trip.
He said the deployment would form part of the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission (MUNICRAT) undertaking peace support operations in Chad.
Lt Col. Owusu said 800 soldiers made up of 43 officers and 757 other ranks would be deployed to Chad.
He said the advance party of 130 all ranks would be deployed on April 15 and would be followed by the rest of the troops.
Lt Col Owusu said among the duties that the soldiers would be tasked to undertake were patrols, escort of very important personalities, force protection and building of civil military relations.
He said prior to their preparations, a six man team visited Chad to recce the area of operation.
Lt Col. Brako said the reports brought by the team indicated that the general situation was calm but that of Eastern Chad tended to be precarious and unpredictable.
He said there were allegations of both Chadian and Sudanese governments sponsoring rebels in neighbouring countries.
Earlier during the tour, Lt Col. Owusu said the firing range and the grenade/small arms training grounds at Bundase were being elevated to the status of a modern hi-tech shooting range for the Ghana Armed Forces.
Lt. Gen. Smith assured the Ghanbatt that they would be provided with the necessary logistics for the team to perform well.
In another development, the German Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Marius Haas, called on the Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Smith, in his office at Burma Camp in Accra.
During the visit, the minister recalled the relations between the two countries which he said dated back to the 1960’s.
He said the past few years had however been fruitful, and called for the relations to be deepened.
The ambassador pledged the continuous support of Germany to Ghana.
He said German Development Co-operation was based on the Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy, adding that the focal areas of assistance were in good governance, employment-oriented private sector development, food security and agriculture.
GJA goes to the polls on July 9 (Page three) March 14, 2009
Story: Michael Donkor
THE Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has fixed July 9, 2009 for the election of a new President and other executives for the association.
This has become necessary because the tenure of office of the current president of the association has come to an end.
Consequently, it has appointed an Election Committee, which will organise the election, and an Election Dispute Adjudication Committee, which will sit on appeals against the decisions of the Election Committee and adjudicate on post-election disputes, should there be any.
The committee is chaired by a member of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) Board, Mr Benedict Assorrow, while the members are Mrs Betty Apau-Oppong of GTV News and Mr Mawusi Afele of the Ghana News Agency (GNA).
The Election Dispute Adjudication Committee is made up of Mrs Jeanette Quarcoopome as Chairperson, Alhaji Razak El-Alawa, a veteran journalist and media consultant, and Mr M. Addoquaye, the Greater Accra Director of Elections of the Electoral Commission.
The President of the GJA, Mr Ransford Tetteh, announced this at an emergency general meeting of the association at the Ghana International Press Centre (GIPC) yesterday.
He said the meeting was organised in fulfilment of the constitutional requirement to hold an annual general meeting and elections in the first quarter of the year, which could not be done because of the national general election.
The framers of the GJA constitution, when they shifted the tenure of office of the executive from two to three years and ruled for elections to be held in the first quarter, obviously did not envisage that it would from time to time clash with national elections, he added.
He said last year was a tedious year for the media, saying that had even started a year earlier with the coverage of the primaries of the political parties, through the electioneering, the elections and the run-off.
Mr Tetteh said they were hampered by the fact that the GJA Secretariat and the GIPC had to play roles in the successful coverage of election programmes to promote peaceful and credible elections.
He said that was why the emergency meeting was called to enable the members, as the highest decision making body, to chose a date for the election.
The GJA President expressed the hope that there would be a smooth transition after the election and a hand over of power, which was being planned to coincide with the 14th GJA Awards ceremony scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2009.
He said the event would climax the 60th anniversary celebrations of the association.
He said the GJA was encouraged by the declaration of President John Evans Atta Mills in his State of the Nation Address to Parliament that his government was very committed to transparency and accountability and his commitment to work towards the enactment of the Freedom of Information Law.
He expressed the hope that President Mills, who, by his presidency, automatically becomes the GJA’S Chief Patron of Press Freedom, would help to ensure that the law was formulated to enhance the free flow of information and satisfy best practices in democracies as they pertained elsewhere in the world.
The General-Secretary of the GJA, Mr Bright Blewu, said the association, in collaboration with the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), would, in April 2009, launch the “Ghana Media Standard Improvement Project”.
The two-year project, which will be jointly managed by the MFWA and the GJA, is being funded by DANIDA.
He said the GJA, in collaboration with the National Media Commission and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES), would organise a roundtable forum to evaluate the performance of the media in the coverage of the 2008 general election.
THE Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has fixed July 9, 2009 for the election of a new President and other executives for the association.
This has become necessary because the tenure of office of the current president of the association has come to an end.
Consequently, it has appointed an Election Committee, which will organise the election, and an Election Dispute Adjudication Committee, which will sit on appeals against the decisions of the Election Committee and adjudicate on post-election disputes, should there be any.
The committee is chaired by a member of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) Board, Mr Benedict Assorrow, while the members are Mrs Betty Apau-Oppong of GTV News and Mr Mawusi Afele of the Ghana News Agency (GNA).
The Election Dispute Adjudication Committee is made up of Mrs Jeanette Quarcoopome as Chairperson, Alhaji Razak El-Alawa, a veteran journalist and media consultant, and Mr M. Addoquaye, the Greater Accra Director of Elections of the Electoral Commission.
The President of the GJA, Mr Ransford Tetteh, announced this at an emergency general meeting of the association at the Ghana International Press Centre (GIPC) yesterday.
He said the meeting was organised in fulfilment of the constitutional requirement to hold an annual general meeting and elections in the first quarter of the year, which could not be done because of the national general election.
The framers of the GJA constitution, when they shifted the tenure of office of the executive from two to three years and ruled for elections to be held in the first quarter, obviously did not envisage that it would from time to time clash with national elections, he added.
He said last year was a tedious year for the media, saying that had even started a year earlier with the coverage of the primaries of the political parties, through the electioneering, the elections and the run-off.
Mr Tetteh said they were hampered by the fact that the GJA Secretariat and the GIPC had to play roles in the successful coverage of election programmes to promote peaceful and credible elections.
He said that was why the emergency meeting was called to enable the members, as the highest decision making body, to chose a date for the election.
The GJA President expressed the hope that there would be a smooth transition after the election and a hand over of power, which was being planned to coincide with the 14th GJA Awards ceremony scheduled for Saturday, August 15, 2009.
He said the event would climax the 60th anniversary celebrations of the association.
He said the GJA was encouraged by the declaration of President John Evans Atta Mills in his State of the Nation Address to Parliament that his government was very committed to transparency and accountability and his commitment to work towards the enactment of the Freedom of Information Law.
He expressed the hope that President Mills, who, by his presidency, automatically becomes the GJA’S Chief Patron of Press Freedom, would help to ensure that the law was formulated to enhance the free flow of information and satisfy best practices in democracies as they pertained elsewhere in the world.
The General-Secretary of the GJA, Mr Bright Blewu, said the association, in collaboration with the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), would, in April 2009, launch the “Ghana Media Standard Improvement Project”.
The two-year project, which will be jointly managed by the MFWA and the GJA, is being funded by DANIDA.
He said the GJA, in collaboration with the National Media Commission and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation (FES), would organise a roundtable forum to evaluate the performance of the media in the coverage of the 2008 general election.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Soldier in Fraud Case(Front Page) March 4, 2009
Story:Michael Donkor
THE military officer in charge of payments to the Ghana Battalion on peacekeeping in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Capt Daniel Nikyi, has been arrested in Morocco and brought down to Accra to answer charges of misappropriating $300,000 belonging to the peacekeepers.
Capt Nikyi, who had been sent on another mission in Morocco upon his return from Congo on United Nations observer duties, was repatriated to Ghana to face the charges immediately the issue was raised.
Military sources said upon his repatriation, Capt Nikyi was put under close arrest at the 37 Military Hospital Army Mess in Accra.
According to the source, Capt Nikyi had also been arraigned before a Court Martial empanelled by the Military High Command.
The source said he had gone on a spending spree and acquired a lot of properties with the stolen money.
The military authorities also moved to locate some of the assets bearing Capt Nikyi’s name which it believed were acquired with the money.
It gave the breakdown as a three-bedroom self-contained house on the Spintex Road estimated at $70,000; another at Kasoa, estimated at $35,000, and a store at Kasoa, estimated at $32,000.
Other properties are two Kia trucks valued at $20,000; a water tank which is mounted on a Kia truck, costing $1,000; a canopy for a Kia truck at $400; two sets of spinning equipment valued at $14,000; canopies for hiring, $8,000; mattresses for hiring, $7,000; a store at Mallam Atta Market in Accra, $10,000; a building materials store at Kasoa, $15,000; one plot of land at Kasoa, $5,000; a 42-inch plasma TV, $2,500; a home theatre, $1,000; three water pumping machines, $1,500; a generating set, $600; water hose for tanker, $400; poly tank, $300; two split airconditioners, $1,300; a set of furniture, $600, and commission to agent for search of building at Spintex, $3,500.
THE military officer in charge of payments to the Ghana Battalion on peacekeeping in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Capt Daniel Nikyi, has been arrested in Morocco and brought down to Accra to answer charges of misappropriating $300,000 belonging to the peacekeepers.
Capt Nikyi, who had been sent on another mission in Morocco upon his return from Congo on United Nations observer duties, was repatriated to Ghana to face the charges immediately the issue was raised.
Military sources said upon his repatriation, Capt Nikyi was put under close arrest at the 37 Military Hospital Army Mess in Accra.
According to the source, Capt Nikyi had also been arraigned before a Court Martial empanelled by the Military High Command.
The source said he had gone on a spending spree and acquired a lot of properties with the stolen money.
The military authorities also moved to locate some of the assets bearing Capt Nikyi’s name which it believed were acquired with the money.
It gave the breakdown as a three-bedroom self-contained house on the Spintex Road estimated at $70,000; another at Kasoa, estimated at $35,000, and a store at Kasoa, estimated at $32,000.
Other properties are two Kia trucks valued at $20,000; a water tank which is mounted on a Kia truck, costing $1,000; a canopy for a Kia truck at $400; two sets of spinning equipment valued at $14,000; canopies for hiring, $8,000; mattresses for hiring, $7,000; a store at Mallam Atta Market in Accra, $10,000; a building materials store at Kasoa, $15,000; one plot of land at Kasoa, $5,000; a 42-inch plasma TV, $2,500; a home theatre, $1,000; three water pumping machines, $1,500; a generating set, $600; water hose for tanker, $400; poly tank, $300; two split airconditioners, $1,300; a set of furniture, $600, and commission to agent for search of building at Spintex, $3,500.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Japan assists road construction, SMEs(February 2, 2009) page 21
Story: Michael Donkor
THE Japanese government has provided a grant of $12.2 million for the government to rehabilitate some trunk roads and support small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in the country.
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr John E. Aggrey, and the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Keiichi Katakami, signed an agreement to that effect at a ceremony in Accra last Friday.
Mr Katakami said $1.2 million of the amount was to be used to rehabilitate the Anwiankwanta-Yamoransa road, as well as the Assin-Praso Bridge, while $11 million was to be used to support SMEs in the country.
He said the gesture was in line with the objective of the Japanese government to support Ghana in its developmental efforts.
He said the Japanese government also wanted to help improve infrastructure in West Africa, hence the grant for the rehabilitation of the Anwiankwanta-Yamoransa road and the Assin-Praso Bridge which served other landlocked countries.
Mr Aggrey thanked the government of Japan for the support and gave the assurance that the grant would be used for its intended purpose.
He said part of the $1.2 million would be used for detailed designs of the project, noting that it was expected that rehabilitation works could start as soon as the detailed designs had been completed in November 2009.
He said the $11 million grant, which was a sector-non-project grant aid for the support of SMEs, was, indeed, a great boost to the private sector.
Known as the ‘Japanese grant’ by the public, it was said to be one of the most popular of government’s on-lending financial facilities to the private sector, he said.
Mr Aggrey said the funds accruing from reimbursement from beneficiary firms were to be utilised to provide public goods and services in the country.
He said to that end, various ministries, departments and agencies, including the Electoral Commission of Ghana, the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Cocoa Board, had benefited from the funds over the years.
He said the signing of the agreements was a testimony of Japan’s commitment to assist Ghana to alleviate poverty and enhance the lives of its people.
THE Japanese government has provided a grant of $12.2 million for the government to rehabilitate some trunk roads and support small and medium-scale enterprises (SMEs) in the country.
The Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Mr John E. Aggrey, and the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana, Mr Keiichi Katakami, signed an agreement to that effect at a ceremony in Accra last Friday.
Mr Katakami said $1.2 million of the amount was to be used to rehabilitate the Anwiankwanta-Yamoransa road, as well as the Assin-Praso Bridge, while $11 million was to be used to support SMEs in the country.
He said the gesture was in line with the objective of the Japanese government to support Ghana in its developmental efforts.
He said the Japanese government also wanted to help improve infrastructure in West Africa, hence the grant for the rehabilitation of the Anwiankwanta-Yamoransa road and the Assin-Praso Bridge which served other landlocked countries.
Mr Aggrey thanked the government of Japan for the support and gave the assurance that the grant would be used for its intended purpose.
He said part of the $1.2 million would be used for detailed designs of the project, noting that it was expected that rehabilitation works could start as soon as the detailed designs had been completed in November 2009.
He said the $11 million grant, which was a sector-non-project grant aid for the support of SMEs, was, indeed, a great boost to the private sector.
Known as the ‘Japanese grant’ by the public, it was said to be one of the most popular of government’s on-lending financial facilities to the private sector, he said.
Mr Aggrey said the funds accruing from reimbursement from beneficiary firms were to be utilised to provide public goods and services in the country.
He said to that end, various ministries, departments and agencies, including the Electoral Commission of Ghana, the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Cocoa Board, had benefited from the funds over the years.
He said the signing of the agreements was a testimony of Japan’s commitment to assist Ghana to alleviate poverty and enhance the lives of its people.
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