Already faced with challenges over its relevance in recent times due to the emergence of the Internet and technology-based communication methods, the Ghana Postal Service faces the threat of a legal suit for abrogating a contract with a partner. The partner, Sky Consult Limited, says it may consider legal action against the national postal service for termination of a contract between them in the operation of a money transfer system, which, to them, was doing very well before its termination in 2008. Taking his turn at the Judgement Debt Commission hearing yesterday, the Chief Executive Officer of Sky Consult Limited, Mr Abubakari Millah, said his company incurred a huge cost buying computers to computerise Ghana Post countrywide and took a bank loan and “sometime along the line before we realised they had instituted a similar product”. While he refuted media publications that his company had already sued Ghana Post for GH¢2.4 million for abrogating that contract, Mr Millah said they were already contemplating taking that action. “My Lord, the GH¢2.4 million will be good for us, since it would enable us to pay part of our loss,” Mr Millah told the Sole Commissioner, Mr Justice Yaw Apau, drawing laughter from all present. Justice Apau, however, admonished Sky Consult to hold on with the court action and rather sit down with Ghana Post to settle the issue. Mr Millah also told the commissioner that he had submitted a committee report, which had instructed the new board of Ghana Post to review the contract and restart the service as soon as possible, while all the union leaders of Ghana Post had held that the money transfer service must be resumed. Efficient system According to Mr Millah, his company had received no official communication on why the contract with Ghana Post was abrogated, although the money transfer system, which Justice Apau recollected ever using when it was in operation, was attracting many customers to Ghana Post. He said Ghana Post had lost about GH¢9.7 million, while Sky Consult had lost about GH¢6.1 million, since it stopped the service in 2008 at a time they (Sky Consult) were computerising the system. “The Service actually won the Economic Commission for Africa Technology in Africa Award in 2007 and we went to Addis Ababa to collect the award with their chief executive officer and since then almost all the African countries have been chasing for this product,” Mr Millah disclosed. Sky Consult was at the Judgement Debt Commission in response to a subpoena in the matter of Sky Consult Limited vrs Ghana Post, which was in respect of the former’s unpaid commission balance of GH¢978,000 for which a judgement debt of GH¢1,693,872.11 including interest was awarded against Ghana Post in 2010. According to Mr Millah, as of now GH¢1,553,871.56 had been paid through their lawyer, with GH¢130,000 outstanding. He, therefore, tendered in evidence all documents on the contract, as well as those covering payments made. Adjournment Representing the Ghana Post Managing Director was Mr Bernard Yao Atta-Sonno who was the company of the acting Solicitor General of Ghana Post, Mr Kwesi Adjeni-Boateng. They asked for an adjournment of the case because Ghana Post had still not been able to lay hands on all documentation covering the agreement with Sky Consult Limited. That was granted and a new date was fixed for January 8, 2014.  

  Far-reaching actions have been taken by the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Ministry of Justice and the Attorney General’s Department to restructure the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA). The actions aim at ridding GYEEDA of financial malfeasance, as well as retrieving all money owed the agency. As part of the measures, the Ministry of Youth and Sports has placed a moratorium on the creation of new modules under GYEEDA. It had also suspended all payments to GYEEDA service providers until further notice. For its part, the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General’s Department has issued demand notices to all service providers who owe GYEEDA, to retrieve all money owed the agency. A statement issued by the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, said the actions were in compliance with President Mahama's directive to stakeholder ministries and agencies to take measures to resolve all the concerns raised in the GYEEDA report. On  November 15, 2013, the President directed the Attorney General’s Department and the Ministries of Justice, Finance and Economic Planning, Youth and Sports, as well as the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana police Service, to address all the issues raised in the GYEEDA report.   Outstanding allowances The statement said all outstanding allowances owed GYEEDA beneficiaries had been processed. "The accounts of the beneficiaries will be created by December 20, 2013. In addition, all the outstanding salary arrears of GYEEDA staff have been processed and would be paid also by December 20, 2013," it said. Meanwhile, the statement said more than 30 people, including the current Minister of Youth and Sports and other ministers of state, as well as some former ministers, has been interrogated or questioned by a team of law enforcement agencies based at the headquarters of the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO). "Some of the people questioned were detained while some others were granted bail," it said.   Value for money According to the statement, a committee has been formed to determine the value for money test of the various GYEEDA contracts and advise accordingly. It said on the basis of the report of the committee, all the GYEEDA modules would be reviewed and those that did not meet the value for money test would be cancelled. "As part of measures to ensure fairness in the determination of value for money test of the contracts, the ministry is engaging service providers and other officials of GYEEDA in its discourse," it said.   Final resolution The statement asserted that the government was taking legal and appropriate measures to resolve all issues of concern raised in the GYEEDA report. "In doing this, transparency and fairness will be its watchword. For that matter, people cited in the report would be given the chance to defend themselves as provided for in our statutes or laws," it said. The statement said ultimately, it was expected that GYEEDA would be restructured and positioned to fulfil its mandate of providing jobs and relevant skills for the youth.  

  Seven personalities became the first recipients of the Volta Heroes awards at a well patronised event held in the Volta Regional capital, Ho, last Saturday. The seven personalities include an Indian obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr Uma Sen, who has worked for 40 years in the region; Most Rev. Bishop Francis Lodonu, Bishop of the Ho Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church; Sir James Bebaako-Mensah, Ghana’s Ambassador to the Vatican, and the late Col. John Augustine Kabore,  who served as a Regional Commissioner during the regime of the Supreme Military Council (SMC). The other recipients were Mr Woeli Kemevor, who is the Head of the Civil Service, Dr Frank Nyonator, who is currently the Dean of Public Health at the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho and former acting Director General of the Ghana Health Services, and Dr George Afeti, who is the Executive Secretary of the National Inspectorate Board and former Rector of the Ho Polytechnic. Awards ceremony The awards night and dinner dance, which is to also serve as a rallying point to discuss matters affecting the growth of the region, was attended by about 600 people including the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations Nii Armah Ashitey, Members of Parliament from the region and other dignitaries.The next edition of the Volta Heroes Awards will be held in the last quarter of 2014 and will be preceded by a business and investment exposition. Volta Heroes Awards The Volta Heroes Awards ceremony, which was held for the first time, was instituted to recognise and reward people who have contributed significantly to the growth of the region and to serve as a motivating factor for others to put in their best, knowing that they could be honoured for their hard work. It was organised by the Volta Heroes Foundation, a non-profit-making organisation formed by some prominent citizens of the region. Speaking at the awards night and dinner dance held at the auditorium of  OLA Senior High School, the Volta Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, said region-based awards schemes such as the Volta Heroes Awards could lead to accelerated growth and development, as they could influence the youth to be dedicated and work to grow the region. He, therefore, urged other regions to roll out a similar scheme. The minister also challenged the awardees to continue to live lives worthy of emulation, as they would now be seen as role models in society. He commended the organisers and urged them to remain sincere with the selection criteria so that the integrity of the awards would remain intact. A founder member of the Volta Heroes Foundation, Rockson Dogbegah, said it was about time the region was revitalised by unearthing its potentials. He expressed optimism about the future and urged traditional leaders not to limit themselves to socio-cultural issues but to begin to pay serious attention to the economic fortunes of their traditional areas and work to harness them. Speaking on behalf of the recipients, the Catholic Bishop of the Ho Diocese, Most Rev. Francis Lodonu, said people’s desire to antagonise others who were successful, instead of supporting or learning from them, was adversely affecting the progress of the region. Bishop Lodonu was grateful for the honour done them and was hopeful that it would motivate others to even do better.  

     A renowned Ghanaian maritime lawyer, Dr Thomas Mensah, has received the meritorious 2012 International Maritime Prize at a ceremony in London, United Kingdom. The International Maritime Prize (IMP) is awarded annually by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the United Nations Organisation on maritime to an individual or organisation judged to have made the most significant contributions to the work and objectives of the IMO.  The winner is annually selected out of nominations from all IMO member countries. The award consists of a sculptured dolphin and an undisclosed amount of money.  The winner of the annual prize is required to present a paper on a theme related to the works of the  IMO, to be published in the IMO’s quarterly magazine.                            Dr Mensah is the first sub-Saharan African to receive this award since its inception 32 years ago. He gained recognition based on his significant contributions since joining the legal division of the IMO in 1968. Receiving the award, Dr Mensah thanked the IMO for the honour done him.  He said as the legal adviser, he played a part in setting out the terms and conditions of the award when it was established in 1980, “but never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine I would one day be deemed worthy of the prize”. He noted that he had spent more than 20 years of his early professional career with the IMO. It was at IMO, he said, that he received his education and training in maritime law and in international relations and “such reputation as l have acquired had been due almost entirely to my work and career here”. He thanked the Government of Ghana for nominating him for the award. Speaking at the ceremony, the Minister of Transport, Mrs Dzifa Attivor, on behalf of the President of Ghana, congratulated Dr Mensah on the honour brought to the country. She said Dr Mensah had availed himself to be consulted on key issues of importance to Ghana. She explained that he had guided the country through considerable difficult situations in terms of valuable advice. His achievements, she noted, had put Ghana on the world map and raised her image in the International maritime community.    Present at the ceremony, which was attended by family and friends of Dr Mensah, was the Director of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Mr I. P. Azuma, the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Shippers Authority, Mr Kofi Mbiah and Mr Tsatsu Tsikata, a prominent Ghanaian lawyer. Dr Mensah began his legal career as an associate legal officer at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna in 1965.  He joined the IMO in 1981 as a Director of the legal office.  He is the former President of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, an Assistant Secretary General and Director of Legal Affairs and External Relations Division of the IMO.  All these positions he held from 1981 to 1990, aside, being a visiting Professor at the World Maritime University at Malmo-Sweden. His contributions to the IMO includes: Civil Liability Conventions, the FUND Convention, the Athens Convention, and the SUA treaty which were all adopted on safety of navigation. The TONNAGE Convention, COLREG, the SOLAS Conventions, the STWC Convention and the SAR Conventions were also adopted on the Protection of the Marine Environment.   He contributed to the development of the United Nations Conventions of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS),  The London Convention, MARPOL 7378, and 1990 OPRC, these amendments made it possible for the IMO’s treaties and instruments to keep abreast of technological advancements and social needs of maritime nations.  He helped to establish the terms and conditions of this award.  On leaving the IMO, he became the special advisor on Environmental Law and Institution in Nairobi (UNEP), the Cleveringa Professor of Law, Leide (1903-1994), Professor, University of Hawaii (1993-1995) and Ghana’s first High Commissioner to South Africa (1996). He was recognised and inducted into the Maritime Hall of Fame in New York in 1998.    

  The Forum of Ministers of Social Development for the ECOWAS countries and policy makers are meeting in Accra to discuss the challenges and impact of environmental change on social inclusion and vulnerability. Participants will also share knowledge and experiences and formulate policy recommendations on how to improve linkage between research and policy on the subject. The two-day forum on the theme,“Societal Vulnerability: The Social Inclusion Challenges of Environmental Change”  is being organised by the government in co-operation with UNESCO. The event is part of a series of meetings of Ministers of Social Development under the auspices of UNESCO’s Management of Social Transformations (MOST) programme.  The outcome of the forum will feed into other major policy processess at the regional and international levels, including sessions of the MOST Intergovernmental Council and the Commission for Social Development of the UN General Assembly. The overall purpose of the MOST Fora is to facilitate policy design and implementation on the basis of rigorous social science knowledge by creating an innovative space for policy-oriented dialogue involving experts, as well as high-level decision makers globally. Common framework Welcoming the participants, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur, called on the participants to fully support the initiative of developing a common framework for developing policies and programmes that addressed environmental change in the sub-region as this would help to influence international discourse. She said West Africa and the whole world was experiencing environmental change, and social development had implications because of climate change, biodiversity loss and fresh water scarcity and that people and communities became vulnerable due to climate change and social development. Those vulnerable to climate change “It is the most vulnerable, poor people, the very young, the elderly and persons with disabilities, the youth and women who, due to environmental degradation,  may become under-nourished and have poor health,” she said. According to her, if these issues are not addressed in a sustainable manner, the situation will become more aggravated, adding that it is the majority of the poor population who live in the rural areas and mainly depend on agriculture for their livelihood who become vulnerable to climate change. Global environmental change On her part,  Ms Angelo Melo, the Executive Secretary of the MOST programme, indicated that global environmental change such as climate change, biodiversity loss and freshwater scarcity were directly linked to social inclusion and social transformation.   

  The University for Development Studies (UDS) has named its library at the Nyankpala Campus after former President Jerry John Rawlings. According to the Chairman of the UDS Governing Council, Dr Abdulai Salifu, the honour done the former President was upon a recommendation by the academic board of the university and its subsequent approval by the council. Addressing the 14th congregation of the university in Tamale last Saturday, the chairman of the council said “in taking the decision, the university took into consideration the role played by the former President in the establishment of the UDS”. “Through his determination and commitment, and against all odds, former President Rawlings and the PNDC government established the UDS in May, 1992,” he said. In all, 1,981 graduates from its campuses in Tamale, Nyankpala and Navrongo were presented with degrees and diplomas in fields including Community Nutrition, Agricultural Technology and Nursing.  Nineteen graduates were also presented with Master of Science, Arts, Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy degrees.President Rawlings Dr Salifu recalled that former President Rawlings in 1994 personally donated 50,000 dollars, which was his prize money for the Award of Sustainable End of Hunger in Africa, to the university which it used to procure reading and other teaching and learning materials. At a special congregation in October, this year, the university conferred an honorary doctorate degree on President Rawlings. A bust was also unveiled at the central administration block of the UDS in his honour. Dr Salifu advised the graduates to aim higher in their various fields of endeavour. “Whether you choose to pursue further academic studies or start a career in any other field, I advise you to apply yourselves to it with the same diligence and unity of purpose that saw you through your studies here,” he stressed. On educational training in the country, Dr Salifu called on the Ministry of Education to review the curriculum of basic schools to make technical and vocational courses compulsory for all pupils up to the junior high school level, since the link between industry and educational training was weak. Professor Haruna Yakubu, the Vice Chancellor of UDS, said the university was enhancing the knowledge and skills of staff at all levels to improve learning and teaching. He explained that the university was doing this by providing financial support to faculty members to pursue higher education. He said the UDS had over the years established linkages with sister universities, agencies, organisations and institutions to promote its international image and for capacity building. Professor Yakubu, therefore, urged the students “to embrace values that ascribe to the highest levels of academic distinction, freedom and accountability”.  

  The Ghana Police Service has received an award as the Young Professionals’ Role Model Organisation for the year 2013. The service was honoured in recognition of the immense role it played during the 2012 election petition hearing by the Supreme Court and for maintaining peace in the country over the years. Presenting the award to representatives of the Inspector General of Police at a ceremony in Accra, the Founder of Young Professionals and Youth Coalition (YPYC), Mr Andy Osei Okrah, stressed that the police service needed commendation for its performance in the country. He said a team of experts was put together to assess the works of various organisations and ultimately, the police service came up tops. Though Mr Okrah did not name the other organisations, he said the role of the police in maintaining peace in the country was unparalleled and needed to be recognised. Other award winners The occasion was also used to honour other Ghanaians and organisations who had contributed in diverse ways to the development of the youth. Dr Joyce Aryee, the Executive Director of Salt and Light Ministry, was honoured for serving as a role model for the youth, particularly, females. Others were, Rosemond Agyemang of the Rosemond Girl Foundation, who was honoured for her contribution towards girl-child development. Paula Nicholson, an Associate Director of GTC Consultancy Firm in the UK was given an award for her leadership role in youth development. Alisa Hotel was awarded the Youth Career Development Organisation for 2013 while the Multinational Telecommunication Foundation was voted the Youth Career Empowerment Organisation for 2013. The rest were, Patrick Agyepong Anti of Antis Ltd who was adjudged the Overall Young Professionals’ Role Model (Male category) and Gifty Anti, host of “Standpoint” on Ghana Television, the Young Professionals’ Female Role Model for 2013. Mr Edmund Adu Sarkodee, Group Chief Executive Officer of CDH Financial Holdings, was adjudged the Young Professionals’ Role Model in Entrepreneurship. Speakers at the function Speaking on the theme, “Beyond Vision: Transformation”, Dr Joyce Aryee challenged the youth to be visionary and focus on making a change in their spheres of contact. She encouraged young people to take up the challenge and grab every opportunity that came their way. For his part, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Julius Debrah, noted that over the past 50 years, various governments had tried to solve the problem of unemployment in the country. The Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Ms Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, indicated that currently, tourism was the fourth foreign exchange earner for the country. She outlined prospects in the industry to include transport, financial and rental services, as well as tourists’ information shops.  

  Golden Tulip Hotel, Accra has presented food items and bedroom accessories to Support Foundation Ghana to assist them in their operations country wide. The items, which included bags of rice, gallons of oil, packets of biscuits, crates of canned soft drinks, bed sheets and pillow cases are meant to support the foundation to  organise an outreach programme this Xmas for children in deprived communities. Present to hand over the items at the office of the foundation located in North Kaneshie, in Accra were top management of the hotel made up of the General Manager, Mr. Francis Deyegbe and the Sales and Marketing Manager, Mrs. Bertha de Graft-Johnson. In his remarks, Mr. Deyegbe said the donation was part of Golden Tulip Accra’s corporate social responsibility targeted at assisting the vulnerable in the society, especially children. “Christmas is a season of giving and as compatriots we want to extend a hand of love and assistance to particularly the needy in this yuletide." Mrs Bertha de Graft-Johnson stressed that the hotel’s primary focus had always been on improving the welfare of children hence the efforts of Support Foundation to assist children in deprived areas in the country was laudable and the hotel was pleased to give its full support to enable the foundation to achieve its objectives.  Rev. Henry Offei-Asamoah, manager in charge of operations at Support Foundation, who received the items on behalf of the foundation commended Golden Tulip for investing in the welfare of kids. According to him, the foundation would camp more than 1000 children from over 60 deprived communities in the Western Region during Christmas so they can also enjoy the Xmas festivities. “The gesture from Golden Tulip  has come at an opportune time due to its timely nature,” he said.  

 The Member of Parliament (MP) for Takoradi , Dr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, has donated 40 fire extinguishers to the Takoradi Market Circle. The move is aimed at empowering the traders and the market’s security officials to provide a first aid response when there is a fire outbreak. Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Dr Darko-Mensah said it was important that Market Circle traders protected themselves and property, following incidents of fire outbreaks at several markets in the country. He said though six fire hydrants in the market had been rehabilitated as part of the measures to position the market to fight any fire outbreak, fire extinguishers were also needed since the water supply for the hydrants was not consistent. Dr Darko-Mensah urged the officials of the market to enforce fire safety measures in the market in order to avert any fire outbreak. The MP pledged to work closely with the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) stationed at the market to ensure that the market was always protected and prepared to fight any form of fire outbreak. Expressing her gratitude for the donation, the Division Officer of the Tarkoradi Fire District, DO III Comfort Quarmyne, lauded the kind gesture of the MP. She said the fire service personnel stationed at the market would continue to educate the traders and the market’s security men on how to use the fire extinguishers since they would be responsible for fighting the fire before the fire service personnel arrived at the scene. DO III Quarmyne said the fire service would always be on standby to fight fire at the market in order to prevent the recurrence of a fire outbreak which gutted stalls in the market and led to the loss of items worth thousands of cedis in 2007.  

  The Omanhene of Chirano in the Bibiani Anhwiaso Bekwai District of the Western Region, Okogyeaman Kwaku Gyamprah III, has channelled a donation of GH¢250,000 made to him by his traditional council into the setting up of an education scholarship fund and the construction of a new palace for the town. The traditional council donated the amount to the Omanhene at a durbar at Chirano in recognition of his appointment by the President as a member of the Council of State. However, just after the donation was announced, the Omanhene said it would be  a great disservice to his stool and people to pocket the money, while poverty had driven many children out of school. Consequently, he decided that GH¢150,000 out of the amount to be used as seed money for the construction of a new palace with the remaining GH¢100,000  going into scholarships for needy but brilliant students from the traditional area. Attended by a large number of people including chiefs,, the durbar also saw the traditional council presenting three pieces of kente cloth and a pair of native sandals to the Omanhene for the honour he had brought to the area through his appointment. According to the traditional council, the appointment, the first of its kind in the area, had brought honour and respect not only to the Omanhene but also to the entire traditional area. Addressing the gathering, the Omanhene stated that his appointment was not on political lines as some people perceived. He explained that it was a call to serve his nation in another capacity and promised to use his wealth of experience to work vigorously to impact not only on the lives of his people but Ghanaians at large. According to him, a good working relationship between the council of state and the executive was paramount in engendering mutual understanding and trust for accelerated national development. A board member of the Ghana Bauxite Company, Mr Joseph Kojo Nsiah, who chaired the function, commended the chief on his appointment to the high office. He appealed to the chiefs to explain to the people the significance of the Omanhene’s appointment. Mr Thomas Nyarko-Danquah, a human resource and community relations manager of Chirano Gold Mines Limited, said the able leadership of the Omanhene had brought progress to the area and pledged the company’s continuous support to the traditional council in the quest to improve the lives of the people. The Akumuhene, Nana Agyarko Komeh, who spoke on behalf of the traditional council, appealed to  Okogyeaman Kwaku Gyamprah III,  to initiate steps to get government to improve the road network and also establish a technical school in the area.  

  A water supply system with the capacity for delivering 280,000 gallons per day has been inaugurated for the people of Abutia-Kpota and surrounding communities in the Ho-West municipality in the Volta Region. The $75,000 project was sponsored by the Eon Energy Company of the United Kingdom and executed by WaterAid (UK) and PRONET (Ghana). The inauguration ceremony was jointly held with a speech and prize-giving day for basic schools in the community because the easy access to potable water had been  linked to the recent 100 per cent success chalked up by the junior high school in the latest Basic Education Certificate Examinations (BECE). According to the chief of Abutia-Kpota, Togbe Tsali IV, school children in the community had spent most of the learning hours to search for water to the detriment of studies, noting that the academic performance of pupils sharply improved after the facility was completed. He said the water facility had also improved productivity in household management and business at the markets. According to him, the water facility had enormous potential and  was capable of serving the 16 communities in the Abutia Traditional Area and beyond. The team leader of Eon Company, Mr Richard Godsmith, said the company had sponsored several projects worldwide and expressed satisfaction that the project in Ghana had started showing positive results in the lives of the people. He recounted the beginning of the project in 2008 through the instrumentality of a native of the community who worked with Eon in London, Mr Robert Azanu, who linked up with WaterAid in UK to engage PRONET in Ghana to execute the project. The Executive Director of PRONET, Mr Odonkor Oduro, commended the Member of Parliament (MP) for Ho-West Constituency, Mr Emmanuel Bedzrah, for the critical role in facilitating the extension of electricity to the community to also support the execution of the project. The Ho-West District Chief Executive, Mr Samuel Ewoade, lauded the combination of forces that came into play for conceiving and hatching the project and that it was a positive demonstration of international and local engagement for development. Mr Bedzrah, commended the school for scoring 100 per cent at the BECE and promised to extend support to the school to acquire computer facilities. A sod was cut for the construction of a school library and information and communication technology (ICT) project for the school. The function was chaired by the queen of Abutia-Kloe, Mama Ayipey Ama III.  

  The Atwima Mponua Rural Bank Limited at Toase in the Atwima Nwabiagya District of the Ashanti Region has made a significant commitment to its corporate social responsibility programme. The bank continues to offer assistance to communities and institutions within its operational territories in terms of community development projects. A total amount of GH¢47,480 was spent in this direction. Areas that benefitted included education, the district’s farmers day celebration and donation towards national projects. Out of the amount committed to corporate social responsibility, GH¢37,388.00 was spent on the construction of the Toase School Project. So far, three classroom blocks have been completed for occupation as promised by the board of directors earlier. The Chairman of the Board of Directors, Mr Charles Opiah Mensah, announced these at the bank’s 29th Annual General Shareholders’ meeting. The bank recorded a profit of GH¢990,986 in the 2012 year under review as against GH¢589,635 in 2011. The bank put up a very satisfactory performance in all other areas including deposits, investments, loans and advances, total assets, shareholders’ funds and stated capital.  The General Manager, Mr Mogtari Issah, in an interview with the Daily Graphic, said he and his management team would continue to pursue policies aimed at maximising more profits and providing exceptional customer satisfaction. The Kumasi Manager of ARB Apex Bank, Mr CK Annor, who delivered an address on behalf of the managing director of Apex Bank, Mr Kwadwo Aye-Kusi, commended the board, management and staff for the impressive performance of the bank.   

  A 45-year-old farmer from Akango, Mr Koduku Mesere, has won the Nzema East Municipal best farmer award at this year’s regional Farmers Day held at Agona, a farming community in the district. For his prize, Mr Koduku Mesere took home a motorbike donated by the Member of Parliament for Evalue-Gwira Constituency, Mr Kweku Tanikyi Kessie, and a 32-inch  television. Other items included a bicycle, mattress, utensils, cutlasses, spraying machine, wellington boots and a certificate. In all, 19 farmers and fishermen were presented with various awards for their excellent performance. Mr Koduku Mesere thanked the government and the assembly for the award, and promised to work hard to increase his production. Addressing the function, the Municipal Director of Agriculture, Mr Emmanuel Ofori Tei Teiko, announced that the municipality had been selected as one of the four  districts to participate in the Ghana Agricultural Production Data in the country. The Chief of Agona, Nana Agona Miezah V, thanked the assembly for selecting the community for the programme. He appealed for motorable roads to link Agona, Aguafo and Ewuku to ensure easy transportation of food produce to the market centres. The Municipal Chief Executive, Mr James Atta Kakra Baidoe, congratulated the award winners for their hard work and commitment towards food production and security, and urged them to sustain it. The Omanhene of the Nsein Traditional Area, Awulae Agyefi Kwame II, who chaired the function, appealed to the government to provide farmers and fishermen with the needed inputs and assistance to increase their output.   Meanwhile, the Ankobra West Rural Bank Limited at Esiama donated a refrigerator worth GH¢1,300.00 to the Ellembelle District Assembly in support of this year’s Farmers Day celebration in the district. Presenting the donation on behalf of the chairman of the board of directors of the bank, Mr Mike Ezan at Nkroful, a director of the bank, Mr Moses Ramsey Arthur, said the bank recognised the importance of farmers and fishermen in feeding the nation, and, therefore, had to contribute its quota in support of the day. The Chief Executive Officer of the bank, Mr Benjamin Alex Baidoo, said the bank was making  a tremendous  impact in its catchment area.  

  The Parliamentary Committee on Roads and Transport has advised the government to implement the Railway Labour Rationalisation Programme which involves, among other things, the retrenchment of 1,282 out of 2,300 staff of the Ghana Railway Company (GRC). Currently, the government continues to pay the salaries of staff of the GRC due to the current unproductive operations of the railway system. An amount of GH¢15,219,714.49 is required to pay salaries of the GRC staff for 2014. On the another hand, the government could make available GH¢85 million should it decide to implement the Railway Labour Rationalisation and retrench the 1,282 staff who were being paid for no work done. Sentiments The Member of Parliament (MP) for Ablekuma Central, Mr Theophilus Tetteh Chaie, conveyed the sentiments of the Roads and Transport Committee when Parliament discussed and approved the 2014 budget estimates for the Ministry of Transport.  The sector minister, Ms Dzifa Attivor, moved the motion for the approval of GH¢89,949,128 for the services of the ministry for 2014. Mr Chaie said even though an amount of GH¢3,557,760 was required to procure track and locomotive items, as well as spare parts to maintain the Nsuta-Takoradi rail track for haulage of manganese ore, no provision was made for the item due to budgetary constraints. But the MP for Takoradi, Mr Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah, contributing to the debate, stated that the GRC needed to be resourced in order to be able to invest in the railway sector. He stated that even though a total of GH¢122 million was allocated from two Eurobonds for the rehabilitation of the railway sector, the money was not released for the intended purpose.  

  Three respondents in the ongoing court case against the sale of Merchant Bank yesterday launched a three-prong attack against the plaintiff, Andrew Awuni. The three prayed the Commercial Court to dismiss the case without delay because any further delays could lead to the collapse of the Merchant Bank. The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), the Bank of Ghana and Merchant Bank joined the affidavits filed earlier by lawyer for Fortiz, Tony Lithur, challenging the capacity of Awuni to sue. Awuni is challenging the sale of SSNIT's 90 per cent stake in Merchant Bank to Fortiz but needs an injunction to stop the parties from taking any further action in completing the sale. The suit has been met with a rigorous defence. Lawyers for the Bank of Ghana told the court that the Fortiz deal was above board and must not be impeded with a suit meant only to waste the time of the court. According to Joy News, the lead lawyer described the suit as vexatious and scandalous and must be dismissed. Lawyer for the Trust told the presiding judge any further delay in dismissing the case would drown the already ailing bank. He said SSNIT had invested in 12 banks all of which regularly paid dividends to the Trust, except Merchant Bank, which for many months, had been too broke to pay any dividend. He argued that the suit must be struck out immediately. He strenuously upheld the argument by the lawyer for Fortiz that Mr Awuni had no locus to sue on behalf of SSNIT contributors, adding Awuni had no reasonable cause for action. According to him, the boss of the Centre for Freedom and Accuracy is not an active contributor to SSNIT and has lost his right to sue. He said the last time Mr Awuni made any contribution was in 2003. He was even more surprised by the suit because the plaintiff had not even asked for a remedy of any wrongdoing, insisting investment decisions were taken in the boardroom by board members and not by individuals outside it. Lawyers for Merchant Bank also joined the chorus in demanding the dismissal of the suit. According to them, if at all Mr Awuni has any problem with the sale,he should be heading to the Pensions Authority to make a case for redress and not to go to court. Lawyer for the plaintiff, Egbert Faibille Jnr, is expected to mount a defence tomorrow for his client whose locus has been challenged. Tall order Meanwhile, lawyer and Senior Law Lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Ernest Kofi Abotsi, has described as a tall order the capacity of the plaintiff to untie the lack of locus noose strapped around his neck. In an interview on Joy News,Mr Abotsi argued that with a trustee situation like we have with SSNIT, the trustee takes decisions on behalf of the shareholders and so for a third party to go behind the trustee and seek remedies in court, that third party must have a solid basis or, at worse an evidence of fraud or wrongdoing. While admitting a clear public interest case as SSNIT contributors, Abotsi said, "it is a bit difficult to come to an argument that you may just have the right to go behind these people and to say that their actions be set aside when you don't have a clear case of fraud or other untoward behaviour." He, however, disagreed with the view that the plaintiff ought to have gone to the Pensions Authority and not to the court. He explained that the court was open for anybody who felt aggrieved on an issue.

  Savana Signatures, a benevolent organisation that uses Information Communication Technology (ICT) to promote development, has launched a programme aimed at assisting the youth to access information on reproductive health. The programme dubbed, “SHE” is an acronym for Sexual Health Education and it is designed to educate young people about sexual reproductive health and their rights to it. Speaking at the launch of the programme, the Executive Director of Savana Signatures, Mr Stephen Agbenyo, said the programme allowed anybody who uses a mobile phone to access information on reproductive health without having to pay for it. “The platform is free and allows young people both male and female with mobile phones to access information by simply texting “SHE” to 7000 on MTN, 1904 for Airtel, Expresso and Vodafone”, he stated. He said the project formed part of Savana Signature’s effort to use ICT tools to promote sexual reproductive health and rights in the three northern regions and the Volta Region and to augment government’s drive to achieve the Millennium Development Goal five, which is on improving maternal health. He said his organisation was using the same technology to implement a maternal health project in six health facilities in the Northern Region where expectant mothers received weekly Short Message Service (SMS) in English and voice calls in Dagbani for those who could not read. He said Savana Signatures “is also implementing a project referred to as the “World Starts With Me” (WSWM),  a computer based comprehensive sexual education programme in four schools in  the Northern Region and four others in the Upper West Region using computers to educate teachers and students on sexual reproductive health and rights”. Mr Agbenyo said the project was supported by TEXT TO CHANGE, a Netherlands based organisation that sets up interactive mobile campaigns disseminating relevant information and collecting data from end-users using their own mobile handsets. An official of TEXT TO CHANGE, Mr Arjen Swank, said his organisation used the same technology to carry out HIV awareness in East Africa with so much success. He expressed optimism that the same success would be achieved in Ghana as regards the reproductive health education using the mobile phone technology.  

    Queen mothers and female chiefs in the country have appealed to the government to take a critical look at how royalties from minerals and natural resources, as well as revenue from stool and skin lands are shared or distributed in the country. They said the distribution pattern of stool or skin land revenue and royalties from minerals as contained in the 1992 Constitution was unfair and discriminatory against queen mothers and female chiefs. The concern was raised by over 600 queen mothers from the Brong Ahafo, Volta and Ashanti regions at a forum in Kumasi organised by the Project Coordinating Unit of the Second Ghana Land Administration Project (LAP-2) as part of the objectives of the project to effectively involve women and the vulnerable in the sustainable management of land. The queen mothers said the 1992 Constitution was silent on queen mothers in the payment and sharing of royalties and revenue from land, and that the time had come for the nation to review the status and to make it clear for queen mothers and female chiefs to be appropriately catered for in the distribution. The President of the Ashanti Regional Queen mothers Association and Mamaponghemaa, Nana Agyakoma Dufie II, speaking on behalf of the other queen mothers, also called on their male counterparts to allow them to formally partake in the management of land by making them signatories to all land transactions, especially in the lease of land. The queen mothers explained that when they partake in land transactions, it would ensure transparency and accountability, as well as prevent the rancour and tensions surrounding land issues in the country. The Paramount Chief of Asante Mampong, Daasebre Osei Bonsu IV, who chaired the forum, said the National House of Chiefs had started the process of including queen mothers in the House but that the issue was a constitutional matter which ought to go through the appropriate amendment for it to be implemented. He urged the queen mothers to heighten their advocacy and to make their presence and wisdom felt as they represented more than half the population of the country. Earlier in her address, the Deputy Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Ms Barbara Serwaa Asamoah, urged the queen mothers to ensure that traditional authorities did not give out large tracts of lands to investors without having equity in whatever venture the lands were released for as a means of ensuring value for money and security for the subjects. The Deputy Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Samuel  Adusei, in a welcome statement, said the Land Administration Project has been beneficial to traditional authorities throughout the country as it had supported them in the establishment of Customary Land Secretariats, as well as the demarcation of boundaries. He said land was a critical resource and asset in the struggle for poverty alleviation and the transformation in the lives of the greater majority of the people, especially in Africa where over 70 per cent of the population earned their subsistence from land and other related agro industry. The Social Development and Gender Specialist of the Second Ghana Land Administration Project (LAP-2), Mrs Sarah Antwi Boasiako, said the Kumasi forum was one of the stakeholder consultations geared towards the mainstreaming of gender into the implementation of all activities of the project.    

  A number of policemen and officials of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) were yesterday deployed at strategic locations in the national capital to ensure traffic flow in the run-up to the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Under an exercise code-named  “Operation let traffic flow”, the personnel worked on some key streets including  the Winneba-Mallam Junction road, Nsawam-Ofankor road, Madina-Adentan, Tetteh Quarshie-Spintex-Accra Polo Court, Danquah Circle and  El Wak road. At Kaneshie As early as 7 a.m the Metropolitan Chief Executive of AMA, Dr Alfred Oko Vanderpuije, led a team of task force and some personnel of the Ghana Police Service and the Motor Traffic and Transport Authority (MTTA) to direct drivers on the Kaneshie highway. Bollards and reflective signs had been put in place to create a two-way lane for vehicles plying the Kaneshie-Accra and the Kaneshie-Circle roads. Drivers who wished to offload and load passengers at the Kaneshie bus stop used the outer lane for that purpose, while others  kept to the middle lane. Traders at the Kaneshie-Accra bus stop were evicted to create free space for passengers and vehicles. The one-way lane plan at North Kaneshie was also in operation. Some drivers who spoke to the Daily Graphic lauded the AMA for the initiative.  Central Business District Personnel of the MTTA and the police service were spotted at every junction at the central business district providing the needed services to commuters. Ms Ruth Mensah, a trader, who spoke to the Daily Graphic, indicated that the task force had driven them out of the street earlier in the morning, but they had returned to sell their goods, since they had nowhere else to sell. AMA boss on the exercise Dr Oko Vanderpuije said the exercise was successful. He admitted that the exercise encountered some challenges but he was optimistic that it would be solved in subsequent days.    “The challenges were expected,” he said, adding that traffic situation on the Kaneshie highway was better yesterday than it was before. Dr Vanderpuije indicated that the public had appreciated the exercise and his outfit would work to improve the traffic congestion in the city. He called on the public to cooperate to make the exercise a success.  

  Two communities are engaged in a tango over the ownership of a site from where gravels are mined for the roadworks in and around the Senchi ferry landing site in the Asuogyaman District in the Eastern Region. The two, Old Akrade and Fodzoku, are disputing the ownership of the site, a situation which has the tendency to further delay the completion of the Senchi ferry landing site, and consequently the commencement of a major rehabilitation of the Adomi Bridge. To forestall any delay of the project, the Deputy Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Isaac Adjei Mensah, has pleaded with the chiefs of the two disputing communities to give unimpeded access to the gravel site needed to complete the roadworks and the Senchi ferry landing site. Incidentally, the roadworks and the landing site would have to be completed before the Adomi Bridge is closed for a scheduled major rehabilitation works in February, next year. Mr Adjei Mensah had visited the site to inspect the progress of the roadworks, the landing site, and also interact with the two chiefs. Meeting with chiefs Mr Adjei Mensah, accompanied by the Director of Bridges, Mr Owusu Sekyere Antwi, first met with the chief of Old Akrade, Nana Adu Adjei Bonse, and his elders.  He solicited their support, stating that the ferry would deliver enormous economic benefit to the people when completed. Nana Kojo Ansah, Dzaasehene of Old Akrade, gave an assurance that access would be given to the contractor to mine the gravel so that the work could be completed on time. He asked that the government withdraw the case from court, but Mr Adjei Mensah indicated that the government was not in a position to do that and pleaded with them to come to a compromise in order that the case was settled amicably. “The gravel will be mined until the court case is heard. Whoever wins will be paid the compensation,” he stated. He told the chief and his elders that the project had timelines, and it was, therefore, important that those differences were resolved swiftly so that they did not affect it. The chief of Fodzoku also expressed his support for the project when the Deputy Minister called on him. The landing site At the time of the visit, workers of HAG Consult were busy mixing concrete to construct one side of the landing site. The other side had also been laced with pre-cast concrete, ready to be filled. A representative of the company told the Daily Graphic that 45 more days were left for the work on the landing site to be completed. Mr Antwi also stated that the two ferries being secured at a cost of 10 million euros were expected to arrive in the country this month. Adomi Bridge The importance of the Adomi Bridge to the transportation needs of those in that part of the country and even beyond cannot be over emphasised. The 46-year-old bridge links parts of the Eastern Region, Juapong in the North Tongu District, Ho, Hohoe and the Volta North on the east of the Volta River to the Greater Accra Region and some parts of the Eastern Region on the western part of the river.  Currently, Messrs Bilfinger MCE GmbH of Austria have been engaged to undertake the rehabilitation works within a 22-month period.  The contractor has mobilised to site and is undertaking the construction of the site camp located on the west bank upstream of the bridge. The government has sourced 12.9 million euros from the Bank of Austria to replace the entire edifice though the original design will be maintained. The ferry site at Senchi was selected because that was the original point before the construction of the 862-feet Adomi Bridge in 1956, authorities say. Writer’s email: [email protected]