The Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has hinted of an increase in electricity and water tariffs from January 1, 2014 as the Automatic Adjustment Formula (AAF) for review of tariffs kicks in. Nana Yaa Jantuah, Director of Public Relations and External Affairs at the PURC, said the Commission was ready to implement the AAF three months after the major tariff review. The AAF is a pricing mechanism that tracks and incorporates movements in key uncontrollable variables to reflect the actual cost of electricity and water supply. Nana Yaa Jantuah said the formula allows for the quarterly review of electricity tariffs to reflect changes in factors whose effects on operations were considered to be beyond the control of the utility companies, namely the Volta River Authority, the Electricity Company of Ghana, the Ghana Grid Company and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company. Stakeholders, including labour, employers and industry have all called for the implementation of the AAF to avoid huge hikes in tariffs level during major tariff reviews. The key parameters include the Ghana Consumer Price Index, the Ghana Cedi-Dollar Exchange Rate, generation mix, fuel mix, power purchase cost and demand forecast variations, among others. “Indeed, the Utility companies do not have any control of these exogenous factors,” Nana Yaa explained, adding that there is certainly going to be some form of increase in tariffs, looking at the indicators that underpin the AAF. “Although we are yet to know the level of increase in tariffs, all the key indicators point to some form of increase,” she said. Besides, the increasing demand for electricity means that there would be heavy reliance on thermal sources for generation to meet the load growth. Nana Yaa Jantuah said key indicators, such as inflation, is on the rise, while the Ghana Cedi continues to fall against the dollar, indirectly increasing the cost of inputs and cost of generation, transmission and distribution. The rate of inflation for November hit 13.2 percent, while the exchange rate of the Cedi to the dollar is 2.40 Cedis “Even though price of crude oil and gas supply remain around the same level, the depreciation of the Cedi against the dollar means an increasing cost to the utilities,” Nana Yaa added. The AAF would be implemented every quarter, beginning from January 1, 2014.  

  The senior and junior staff of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) have  expressed concern about their inadequate staff strength, saying, the situation has undermined effective and efficient collection and protection of revenue generation in the country. At a joint national delegates’ conference of the Junior and Senior Staff Association of the Customs Division of the GRA held at Fumeasua, the members also observed that the lack of recruits to strengthen their number over the years  was affecting effective protection of the borders across the country. “Customs is gradually losing its responsibility to protect our borders because of the dwindling numbers and aging officers. Customs officers are becoming endangered spices at all the stations and outposts,” the Chairman of the association, Alhaji Seidu Iddrisu, bemoaned during an address. He said, “Lack of recruitment over the years has reduced the staff strength at most border stations to about one-fourth of the staff strength in the early 1990s.” “Officers are worried that as a result of the persistent lack of recruitment and aging staff among others, the Customs Division is gradually losing its role in border management.”   “Border security is a very important aspect of the overall security of every country. This is because though borders are potential sources of benefits to a country through revenue generation, they also constitute sources of detriment if adequate protection is not provided,”  he noted. A total of 120 senior and junior staff of the association attended the  three-day  joint conference which was on the theme; “The Change process under scrutiny; Relevance and direction of the Staff Associations.” The national delegates conference offered a platform for the members to air their views on issues undermining effective revenue mobilisation and security at the borders. Appealing to the government to strengthen their numbers through recruitment, Alhaji Iddrisu said while the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) had over the last few years recruited hundreds of personnel for the enhancement of their operations, the GRA, mandated to protect the borders of the country and also collect revenue to pay the staff of the GIS, had been restrained to make such recruitments to enhance their operations. Expressing concern about that situation, he noted, “The protection and maintenance of national security in all nations commences at its borders. The recent upsurge in illicit drug importation and availability of small arms and light weapons used by armed robbers are but a few consequences of our porous borders,” he lamented during his address. On their revenue generation, he said they could not meet their target this year, explaining that  “leakages within the system are partly responsible for the situation.” “The Senior Staff Association is of the view that as operational staff, supervisors and middle-level managers, it is our responsibility to make sure that measures put in place by the board and top management to efficiently collect  and protect revenue are properly implemented and enforced,” he suggested. Stressing, he said “It is partly as a result of our failure to effectively carry out these roles that has partly contributed to this failure  to live up to the expectation of the public and has brought the authority, especially the Customs Division, into negative limelight in recent times,” he confessed. The Commissioner-General of the GRA, Mr George Blankson, urged the members to devise innovational means of boosting revenue collection and protection. “You must use this conference to brainstorm and come out with various ideas, plans, proposals, strategies and recommendations on the best way forward in maximizing  revenue,” he advised. He assured that the management had made it a priority to provide the requisite logistics and basic working tools that would enhance their operations. For his part, the Commissioner of Customs, Mr Farouk Adams, urged the members to use the platform to instill a new sense of commitment to the national cause in the framework of revenue collection and security. “You should step up your preventive functions to stem the incidents of smuggling on various illegal routes such as waterways and overland, particularly in the transit regime,” he advised.  

      The government is to launch a massive sanitation programme to improve the sanitation situation in the country. President John Dramani Mahama, who announced this, said Ghana lagged far behind in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) on sanitation, hence the determination of the government to improve the situation. He made the pledge last Saturday when he inspected a biofil toilet system at the Christ the King Catholic Church in Accra. Biofil toilet facility With biofil toilet facility, earth worms are injected into a faeces receptive system of about two feet. The earth worms feed on the faeces. Water from the receptive system goes through a series of filtration. Thereafter, the water is allowed to go into the ground. The water can also be used in watering gardens. The biofil toilet system was invented by Biological Filters and Composers Limited. Sanitation situation The President said the MDG on sanitation required a country to have up  to 67 per cent of the population having access to toilet facilities by 2015. However, he said, in Ghana, only 18 per cent of the population had access to toilet facilities. President Mahama said the government's decision was to support the construction of toilet facilities to get at least closer to the 67 per cent mark by 2015. He said  the biofil toilet facility had some advantages because it did not require much water for flushing. He tasked the Ministers of Health and Local Government to further study the biofil toilet facility and see how it could be incorporated to scale up the national programme. The inventor of the biofil toilet system, Mr Kweku Anno, said the facility did not pollute the environment or give bad stench. He said the company already had more than 3,500 of the toilet facilities across the country.      

  One hundred and two buses belonging to the Metro Mass Transit (MMT) company are to be offloaded and subsequently sold to scrap dealers in 2014. These buses are no longer economically viable and the MMT company, which incurs a lot of cost in maintaining them,  is seeking to use the money accrued to purchase new buses. These remarks were made by the Managing Director of the MMT, Mr Noble John Appiah, at a press soiree held in Accra. High cost to management Mr Appiah noted that each of the 102 buses to be offloaded had recorded over 100,000 kilometres mileage. Those vehicles, he said, had been used for many years now and had incurred a lot of wear and tear. He also mentioned that the company had incurred a lot of losses maintaining those buses, adding that “it will be more prudent for us to sell them and procure new ones rather than spending huge sums maintaining these vehicles to be roadworthy.” Safety of passengers According to Mr Appiah, in 2013, all 2000 drivers of MMT went through re-training and that had ensured professionalism among the drivers. The Ghana Police Service, according to Mr Appiah, had collaborated with the MMT to secure passengers through the provision of security personnel for their buses. Efficiency in bus service The MMT will introduce E-Ticketing next year to electronically record and generate tickets for passengers. The Deputy Managing Director of MMT, Mr John Awuku Dzuazah,  also told journalists that the management of MMT was committed to using technology to reduce leakages in the current system. He said that as part of the company’s five-year strategic plan, 1,000 buses would be acquired between 2014 and 2018 to augment their current fleet.   

  The multi-million dollar Bui Hydro Power Project in the Banda District in the Brong Ahafo Region has been completed. President John Mahama will on Thursday, December 19, 2013 officially inaugurate the Bui Generating Station, which is expected to produce 400 megawatts of power. The Sino Hydro Corporation Limited of China, the contractor on the project, is scheduled to hand it over to the government on the day of the inauguration. An official of the Bui Power Authority (BPA), said the project partners promised to complete the work and hand it over in 2013, and truly, they had kept their word.  However, he said, even after the inauguration, the authorities would ensure that the contractors undertook finishing touches, including the general cleaning of the site to beautify the surroundings. The BPA and its Chinese counterparts are making feverish preparations to receive the President government officials, Members of Parliament (MPs), as well as other dignitaries, who would attend the ceremony. Commencement of project On August 24, 2007, former President John Agyekum Kufuor performed the sod-cutting ceremony for the commencement of work on the Bui Hydroel Power Project but actual work started in 2008. The project was funded with a concessionaryconcessional loan of US$263.5 million and a buyer’s credit of US$298.5 million from China and EXIM Bank respectively, while the government contributed US$60 million. The Bui Dam project is primarily designed to generate hydroel power but will eventually, also be used to irrigate 30,000 hectares of land for agricultural production, among other benefits. After its inauguration, it is expected that the Bui Dam will serve as a catalyst for development in the immediate vicinity and other parts of the country.  

  Society has been called upon to look at issues involving men and women with equal gender lenses. This, when done, would help reduce gender stereotyping in society and promote human development among the sexes. The Chairperson of the Leadership and Advocay for Women in Africa  (LAWA) Ghana, Mrs Shiella Minkah-Premo, made the call at a day’s training programme for selected media persons in Accra on the Property Rights of Spouses Bill (PRSB). The training, which was organised by LAWA-Ghana and the African Women Lawyers Association (AWLA), was sponsored by Star Ghana, a multi-donor pooled, funding mechanism funded by the Department for International Development (DFID), Danish International Developmnent Agency, European Union and United States Agency for International Development. The PRSB, which is currently before Parliament, seeks to regulate the property rights of spouses in accordance with Article 22 of the 1992 Constitution.  The 1992 Constitution in Article 22 imposes an obligation on Parliament to enact legislation to regulate the property rights of spouses to have equal access to property jointly acquired during marriage. It also allows for matrimonial property to be equitably distributed between spouses upon termination of the marriage. According to Mrs Minkah-Premo, people misinterpreted the PRSB to mean women  being empowered to take over the property of their husbands. However, she said people should use equal gender lenses to look at the gender implication of the bill to know that it would serve the interest of both men and women when divorce set in during marriage. She, therefore, called on the media to help in disabusing people’s minds by using appropriate arguments to counter stereotyping about property rights within marriages. She also called on the media to lead a re-socialisation agenda of the general public by encouraging boys to respect girls. Mrs Minkah-Premo said the passage of the PRSB into law had become necessary as “women in Ghana have always worked and contributed towards the acquisition of property during marriage but for a long time their contribution was not recognised and was believed to belong to their husbands only”. In the same vein, Mrs Minkah-Premo said a sizeable number of men had also helped their well-to-do wives to acquire more wealth, and that they also had to benefit from such wealth whenever there was a divorce or separation. Explaining why gender and property rights had become an issue, she said it all boiled down to the customary law position founded on tradition where the man was the head of the household and breadwinner, and, therefore, charged with the responsibility of ensuring the welfare of all the household members, saying that the view was also reinforced by religion. “Despite the advances in the role of women in several sectors of the economy and their contribution towards property acquisition either alone or in association with their husbands, cultural attitudes and perceptions have kept women from being legal owners to landed property on the same footing as their husbands”, she added. Journalists pledged to help in advocating  the passage of the bill into law as soon as possible.  

  A report by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) says nearly 1.2 million children under five years of age in Ghana are not registered in any official document. The report dubbed, “Every Child’s Birth Right: Inequities and trends in birth registration” was released to coincide with UNICEF’s 67th anniversary. The report collected statistical analysis spanning 161 countries and presents the latest available country data and estimates on birth registration. “Birth registration is a process that gives every child a right, it is the right that gives the child an identity and nationality”, according to UNICEF Ghana Representative, Susan Namondo Ngongi. “But, the pattern of birth registration coverage in Ghana shows disparities across diverse issues. Children not registered at birth or without identification documents have challenges accessing education, healthcare and social security later in life. The chances of improving their lives are slim,” she stated. Ghana’s trend, according to the report, was similar to the average global situation as the situation across West and Central Africa was not any better.  The report states that two out of three children on average were not registered at birth and a wide range exists in birth registration rates across the region- only four per cent in some countries and 90 per cent in others. Many reasons, the report said, such as difficult access to registration centres, socio-cultural and economic reasons accounted for the children whose births were not recorded.   Bottleneck analysis A 2013 UNICEF supported bottleneck analysis in Ghana which shed more light on the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey showed that unregistered children mostly lived in rural and urban areas and are present in different socio-economic and socio-cultural settings. It also showed that in some hard-to-reach areas, registration rates were not even reaching 20 per cent of children less than five years old. The analysis which was done to better understand the disparities and articulate strategies for overcoming the barriers to reaching all Ghanaian children with birth registration services, provided the evidence required for the Births and Deaths Registry to tackle the birth registration challenge more strategically.   

  The Paramount Chief of Mpasaso in the Ahafo-Ano South District in the  Ashanti Region, Nana Tabiri Gyansah III, has called on the Ahafo-Ano District Security Council (DISEC) to help curb the cultivation and use of Indian hemp in the area. He has pledged the traditional authority’s support towards any effort to check the cultivation of the plant. Nana Gyansah made the call at a durbar to inaugurate a five-unit bungalow for staff of the Mpasaso Health Centre at Mpasaso. The facility, which cost GH¢₵80,000, was funded by the former Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, Mr Stephen Balado Manu, from his share of health fund under the National Health Insurance Scheme. The residential facility, which took two years to complete, would accommodate at least five staff members of the health centre who previously had to travel from far away or rent accommodation in the community. Use of Indian hemp The paramount chief said the cultivation and usage of Indian hemp had led to increase in crime in the district, especially at Mpasaso and its surrounding communities.  Mpasaso, a farming community, alone recorded over 40 rape and defilement cases in the early part of the year, he said. Nana Gyansah is worried  that  the cultivation and use of the herb in the district, if not checked, could shatter the dreams of the people of the area, especially the youth. Health care Dr Joseph Oduro, the Deputy Ashanti Regional Director of the Health Services, said since access to health centres was very crucial, there was the need for metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) to, at least, construct two community-based Health Planning Services (CHPS) every year. He appealed to people to report to health facilities early when they were sick, instead of waiting till their conditions worsen before seeking  health care, which he said could be very dangerous for the patients. The District Director of Health Services, Mr Reuben Bedzrah, in a welcome address, expressed concern about the low patronage of health facilities in the district and attributed the situation to poor road network and attitude of the people. The Deputy Coordinating Director for Ahafo-Ano South District, Mr Kaleem Abdullah, in his address, said the assembly would continue to support the development and improvement in the health sector by providing the needed infrastructural development.  

  Hundreds of mourners turned out last Saturday at the funeral for the Stanbic Bank worker who was murdered in her house at Baatsona in Accra to bid her final farewell. The 32-year-old Ms Rosemond Nyampong, who worked in the Credit Department of the bank, was laid to rest amid emotional scenes at the Osu Cemetery in Accra. Friends, workers and management of Stanbic Bank and family members who attended a church service for the deceased wiped away tears when her casket was lifted for burial and carried to the Osu Cemetery for the final journey. Ms Nyampong was found dead in a pool of blood in her kitchen on November 21, 2013 in her rented apartment at Baatsona in Accra, where she lived alone.  Tributes The mother of the deceased, Mrs Florence Nyampong, wept uncontrollably at the burial service held at the Kingsway International Christian Centre (KICC), Dominion Centre, as her body was ushered into the church, and when tributes were read. Tributes read by siblings, the church, and colleagues from Stanbic Bank described her as a kind person who assisted people without  asking for a favour. While her siblings eulogised her leadership qualities, organisational skills and for being a strong-willed person, her colleagues said she was industrious and full of life. “Simple, infectious with a cute face, never missing a smile and would burst into heavy and uncontrollable laughter when the occasion called for it. We will miss all that. Indeed, a large vacuum has been created not only in our Credit Department but also throughout the bank,” said a tribute from Stanbic Bank.  Among the mourners from Stanbic who were spotted in their corporate blue textile print were the Managing Director of Stanbic Bank,  Mr Alhasan Andani, and the Human Resource Manager, Ms Ernestina Danquah.     In a brochure distributed during the funeral service, a friend of the deceased, Marian Neena Kwofie, wrote; “Rose, you will be greatly missed. God grant you eternal rest in His bosom. I pray the angles guide you safely to the land where there is no more pain or evil. RIP my girl.”  The KICC young adult ministry, of which she was a member, said they would miss Ms Nyampong for her contribution to the church as she “never hesitated to offer suggestions to the leadership of the church”. Don’t seek vengeance  The Resident Pastor of KICC, Pastor Andy Yawson, in a sermon, said “I know right from the day you heard about the death of Rosemond, you have been longing to know what actually happened. We cannot demand from God an explanation.”   The sermon was based on Proverbs 29:22 which read; “An angry man stirs up strife, and a furious man abounds in transgression.” Considering the circumstance under which Ms Nyampong died, Pastor Yawson stated that it was natural for the family to be angry “but you have to deal with your anger.” Anger, he explained, was a natural product of pain and, in the case of the family of the deceased, the pain of losing a loved one was an expected reaction. “Angry can dive you to say things you do not want to say or even do something against God.” He advised the family members not to be vindictive as “in times like this vengeance is very attractive” and noted that vengeance was of the Lord’s. “God will expose every secret. Everything that happens in darkness will be exposed. Whatever happened on that day and prior to that day, God himself will bring it to the fore,” he said. The pastor, however, said he was not against the law taking its course; “the law ought to take its course. Let the law take its course.” When her casket was being lowered into the grave where her late father was buried six months ago, sympathisers and family members who had gathered at the graveside could not control their tears and many of them were seen wiping up their tears. Biography  At the family house of Ms Nyampong at Ofankor in Accra, a framed picture of the young lady with an infectious smile that showed dimples on both cheeks rested in a chair, while mourners filed past to console her mother and other family members. Ms Nyampong was born on April 26, 1981 and was the first of four children of Mr George Nyampong, who passed away six months ago, and Mrs Florence Nkrumah Nyampong. She held a BSc degree in Administration and Human Resource Management from the Central University College and an MBA in Corporate Strategy and Economic Policy from the Maastricht School of Management in The Netherlands. In 2005, she started her working career with Metropolitan and Allied Bank and then moved to Atlantic Merchant Bank as a teller for some months before joining the Stanbic Bank in 2006, where she worked as an account management officer in the Credit Department until her death. Police investigations  Police investigations into the incident which has attracted headlines in the media in the past week has led to the arrest of one suspect, Abraham Baah Kwame Oyortey, a 25-year-old welder.  He was arrested from his hideout at Krobo Odumase in the Eastern Region upon a tip-off, being in possession of a vehicle belonging to the deceased. Some other items belonging to the deceased, including a television set, a DVD player, a sound system and three speakers, were retrieved from the suspect’s residence, which was a few blocks away from the deceased’s house.  A Tema court has remanded him in police custody to reappear on December 21, 2013 on a provisional murder charge.   

  President John Dramani Mahama has urged Ghanaians to do away with cynicism and instead have belief and faith in the ability of the country to achieve massive socio-economic development. Again, he asked Ghanaians to contribute their quota to the growth of the country, since the development effort was a shared responsibility. He said all the developed countries and strong economies, such as Japan and China rode on the faith and contribution of their people. President Mahama made the call at the dedication of the Lord's Temple of the Revival Restoration Centre (RCC) of the Assemblies of God Chcurch at Roman Ridge in Accra on Saturday. The RCC was established in 1990 by Apostle Dr Alex Nkrumah. The church began in a sitting room in Accra in 1990, with 11 people, and the construction of the temple for the church at Roman Ridge began in 2007. Ghana making progress President Mahama said despite the challenges, Ghana had made a lot of progress with an annual average growth of eight per cent. Following its pace of development, he said, Ghana had been classified as one of the 10 emerging economies in Africa. Likening the development of the country to the movement of an aeroplane or car, President Mahama said  while passengers in a car or aeroplane did not realise its speed, those outside could see it. Faith in country Illustrating further the development process, the President said the growth of a church was similar to that of a nation, where the faith of the members was crucial in its development. For instance, he said, Japan came out from the ashes of the Second World War and transformed itself into a developed country, while China had also developed within a few decades, all because of the faith of the people in their capacity to make it. "All the nations made it because their people believe that they can be great and strong. In any country, faith and belief play a role. If any country can make any progress, it is based on the faith and belief of the people," he said. President Mahama said Ghana was making progress, saying that "God's favour is on us.  We have to be a nation of believers that we can be great and strong. The President said the leadership could have the vision, but it required the contribution of all to achieve the needed development. "It can't be only the leader; it is what contribution every single one of us makes," he said. Challenging year President Mahama said Ghana experienced challenges of power cuts, market fires, slow economic growth and labour unrests this year. Happily, he said, the power crisis had been solved, while the economy was responding positively. He, therefore, thanked Ghanaians for bearing with the government in the difficult times. Touching on the RCC, the President said the fact that the RCC started from a living room, to under a tree, and to a tent to the current temple manifested the glory of God. For his part, the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Church, Ghana, Rev Dr Paul Frimpong Manso, expressed worry about the creeping indiscipline, arrogance and empty spirituality in churches. For instance, many people dressed indecently to church, fidgeted with their mobile phones, danced awkwardly, made empty noises and demonstrated arrogance during church service. Rev. Dr Frimpong Manso said there was the need for Christians to make their singing, worship and demeanour glorify God but not man. He again asked pastors and priests to work towards uniting their members, and ridding the church of division, tension and partiality. The General Superintendent said it was important for the leadership of churches to ensure that people experienced divine encounter and solution to their spiritual, physical and emotional challenges. In his remarks, Apostle Dr Alex Nkrumah, who is the Senior Pastor of the RCC, said the dedication of the temple revealed God's faithfulness in fulfilling his promises on time when people showed commitment to his work. He said the financial challenges and attacks from opponents that the assembly faced 23 years ago, had turned into a blessing. Apostle Dr Nkrumah urged members to always think and speak of what they could do through the word of God to move the Kingdom of God forward.  

    For the next four weeks, pupils of five branches of Lutheran Church schools will have the opportunity to test their creative skills in a special vacation activity titled ‘Win With Kalyppo’. Not only will the pupils have the fun of enjoying the different flavours of their favourite Kalyppo, the natural juice drink, but  also get the chance to showcase their creativity in using empty Kalyppo packets to make models of their choice, such as  animals, birds, vehicles ,aircraft or any toys.  What is more, they will get the chance to win one of the top three attractive prizes and a certificate. Launching the contest, Mr Innocent Gakpo, the company Spokesperson, said the benefits of the exercise were enormous and encouraged pupils of Lutheran Church schools to participate in large numbers. He said in addition to triggering creativity among children, the activity was an opportunity for the family to spend quality and fun time together by helping the children to build the models of their choice.  That would help in family bonding by sharing the sheer fun of doing something creative together, he said.  Other advantages, he said, were that the activity would keep children off the streets during the vacation period and help reduce waste, as the kids would be using empty Kalyppo packs, an indirect way to teach them not to litter their surroundings. The top three creative models will be selected by a panel of school teachers and certificates and attractive prizes will be distributed at a special event in January.  Even the branch of the Lutheran School where the winning pupil is studying will receive an attractive prize.   Mr Gakpo emphasised that the winners would be chosen for creativity and not the size of the model.    

  Ms Ophelia Koomson, the Birim Central Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), has  stressed  the need to engage all stakeholders in the food chain to reduce post-harvest losses in the country. She noted that reducing post harvest losses would enable the government to meet its food security  targets by 2015 and also meet the Millenium Development Goals. Ms Koomson, who was speaking at the municipality’s 29th Farmers Day celebration at Akyem Asene, mentioned some post-harvest activities to include handling of produce, storage, processing, packaging, transporting and marketing. “We can have a huge loss when perishable food items like vegetables and grains are not properly handled.” She urged farmers to package food crops in well-ventilated containers  The MCE also advised market women not to expose food items to extreme temperatures from the direct sunlight and also avoid poorly ventilated storage facilities. She said 2.5 acres of commercial cassava farms had been established at Akyem Akroso and Takrowase, and 200 bundles of improved cassava plantings had been distributed to farmers in the municipality.” Ms Koomson said under the Inland Valley Rice Development Project, 18 acres of land was currently under cultivation at Oda Nkwanta and Nyame Nti, “and we hope to harvest about 39.6 tons of rice this year.” She congratulated all the award winners, and encouraged them to improve upon their farming ventures and make the municipality and the country proud. In all, 15 farmers were awarded, with Mr Alfred Adu-Bobi being adjudged the overall best farmer in the municipality. He received a 21-inches colour television, six cutlasses, a bicycle, knapster sprayer, pair of wellington boots and a certificate as his prize. Ms Charlotte Baidu was adjudged the best woman farmer and was presented with a gas burner, cutlasses, knapster sprayer, wax prints and pairs of wellington boots. Meanwhile, Mr Joseph Kweku Owusu, Chairman of the Akyem Oda-Accra-Tema Number Three Branch of the Ghana Private Road Transport Union (GPRTU), had donated two sewing machines towards the Farmers Day celebration, with one of the items being presented to the best woman farmer. — GNA     

  A 49-year-old man, Mr Andrews Ossom (from Oborpah), won this year’s Lower Manya Krobo Municipal Best Farmer award. He received a fridge, a 21 inch television, one bundle of roofing sheets, a knapsack sprayer, four cutlasses, a  pair of Wellington boots, wax print and a certificate. Sixteen other farmers including a visually impaired were also honoured at the 29th edition of the district’s Farmers Day held at Oborpa. This year’s Lower Manya Krobo best farmer has been farming for the past 24 years. He won the best beekeeping farmer in 2003 and best small ruminant farmer in 2006. Mr Ossom has 21 acres of maize, 38 acres of cassava, five acres of oil palm and two acres of agro- forestry. Others include  64 beehives, 86 pigs, 122 local fowls, 37 guinea fowls and 27 sheep and goats. The Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Mr Isaac Agbo- Tetteh, who addressed the gathering on the theme: “Reducing post- harvest losses for sustainable food security and nutrition,” congratulated the farmers in the municipality on their immense contribution towards food production, food security, food sufficiency and economic transformation of the area. He sad worldwide, the amount of food lost and wasted each year was four times (even more) what would be needed to solve the world’s hunger problems.  Mr Agbo- Tetteh attributed the post-harvest losses to poor planning, lack of storage facilities, weak transportation system, crop diseases, pest infestation and poor management. He said it was very sad that some areas in the municipality had been witnessing post-harvest losses. He said most tomatoes remained rotten on the fields, by the road side and market centres.  The Municipal Chief Executive announced that this academic year, every school in the municipality should have sample farms to boost food production to support the school feeding programme as well as enhance teaching and learning of Agriculture and Integrated Science in the schools. He gave an assurance that the municipal assembly would acquire the land and supply chemicals and other materials that would be needed for the school project. The Municipal Director of the  Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), Dr Evans W. Lawson, advised farmers and the general public to liaise with the Department of Agriculture in the municipality for an improved technology in farming. He said demonstration farms would enable the youth to develop interest in agriculture.  

    Japan is determined to assist Africa to reverse the situation where tourism development on the continent has so far been promoted primarily by foreigners. The country has put in place a mechanism to help African countries tackle the problem of lack of human resources and technical skills for tourism development and enhance the preservation of resources.  In furtherance of that objective, the Japanese government has instituted a course in Okinawa, Japan, aimed at building the capacities of high-level African officials engaged in tourism administration in their countries. For 2014, the six-week course is open to tourism practitioners from Botswana, Cape Verde, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. It will involve lectures, field visits to tourism sites in Japan, research and development on tourism resources and marketing.  In Ghana, the Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF), the umbrella body covering the tourism’s 21 private sector trade associations, has been made the lead institution for selecting nominees for the course, which spans February 5-22, 2014. The course will focus on ‘Sustainable Tourism Development in African Countries (Natural and Cultural Tourism Development).’ A concept paper accompanying the admission forms to be filled out by applicants says the course is designed to provide participants with good opportunities to find ways to improve sustainable tourism in Africa.  Commenting on the offer, Mr David Nana Anim, the GHATOF president, expressed appreciation   to the government of Japan for extending the facility to the private sector. On how Ghana’s nominee will be selected, the GHATOF president, himself a past beneficiary of the Okinawa course, said the process would be as transparent as possible. “Each and every association within the federation will be given a chance to go through the eligibility criteria and come up with a nominee.”      

  The District Minister of the Teshie Peniel Presbyterian Church, Rev. Victor Okoe Abbey, has exhorted the various branches of the church not to concentrate on building only their various congregations but also unite to build the Presbyterian Church in the country. Rev. Abbey said this at the Silver Jubilee service of the Teshie Peniel Presbyterian Church at Teshie Salem.    “We need to build this church which has been handed over to us, so that at the end of our tenure of leadership, we will be able to hand over a church that is stronger and healthier to the next generation,” Rev Abbey said. Addressing the congregation, the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Nii Laryea Afotey-Agbo, said the Presbyterian Church had impacted on the lives of the people in the Teshie community and its environs. Mr Afotey-Agbo, who is a member of the congregation, indicated that the church had helped to maintain the spirituality and values of the people, maintaining that it  had maintained its core values. The minister, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Kpone Katamanso, thanked the authorities who had seen to the progress of the congregation since its inception and called on all  stakeholders to continue spearheading the aspirations and ambitions of the church.  As part of his appreciation to the church, Mr Afotey-Agbo donated GH¢2,000 to help in running its affairs.  

Operations of the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) took centre stage in the deliberations of Parliament on the 2014 budget estimates of the government machinery. Two ventures by SADA — the promotion of high-tech production of guinea fowls for local consumption and export; and the planting of five million trees in the three northern regions as well as parts of the Brong Ahafo and Volta regions — generated a lot of heat in the House. The Finance Committee of Parliament stated in its report that SADA entered into a joint venture agreement with the Asongtaba Cottage Industries to promote high-tech guinea fowl rearing. While SADA contributed GHC12 million towards the project and an additional GHC3 million to promote out-grower schemes in the SADA zones, Asongtaba contributed GH¢15 million. The committee stated that progress had been made in the construction of ultra-modern facilities that would promote an out-grower guinea fowl scheme with the potential to create employment for 10,000 farm families. On the tree planting scheme, the committee said the programme ran into challenges due to the long dry season and bush fires. But the Deputy Minority Leader, Mr Dominic Nitiwul, said even though the idea to produce high-tech guinea fowls on a commercial basis was laudable, its implementation left much to be desired. But some Majority MPs, particularly Mr Alban Bagbin (Nadowli-Kaleo) and Dr Ahmed Yakubu Alhassan (Mion), said since guinea fowls were delicate birds, they required a conducive atmosphere to survive, hence the investment in infrastructure. On the tree planting venture, Mr Nitiwul said whoever took the decision to plant the trees during the dry season had done a disservice to the country. "It was intentional for those who planted the trees to do so during the dry season, so that they will die," he said. But when he was unable to show evidence that those who planted the three did so during the dry season in order to kill the plants, the Speaker, Mr Edward Adjaho, prevailed on him to withdraw that aspect of his submission.   National Pension Regulatory Authority The Finance Committee reported to the House that the National Pension Regulatory Authority (NPRC) had so far engaged 11 private pension fund managers and registered 50 trustees to help manage contributions of workers to the Second Tier Occupational Pension Scheme. The second tier Private Pension Fund has grown significantly, with total assert value of GHC1.179 billion. But the Minority Spokesperson on Finance, Dr Anthony Akoto Osei, raised issues with the management of the fund and called for transparency. Dr Akoto Osei called for measures to invite officials of SSNIT, the NPRA and the BoG to Parliament to answer questions relating to the fund. The Majority Leader, Dr Benjamin Kunbuor, promised that efforts would be made to ensure that officials of the three institutions appeared before the committee to give further explanations to issues raised on the floor of the House.   Other issues The Minority also raised issues with an amount of GHC600,000 that has been earmarked in the budget of the Government Machinery for the Brand Ghana Office. Dr Akoto Osei argued that since the office was not created by Parliament and operated as a non-governmental organisation, it was not proper for the House to approve the amount.

 Seventy-two youth at Agbogbloshie, a neigbourhood in Accra, have received training in employable skills to better their lives. The youth received three month training in computing, tie-dye, bead making, dressmaking, liquid soap making and hairdressing. The hairdressers went through 11 months of intensive training. The programme was organised by the Self-Help Initiative Support Services (SISS), a non-governmental organisation responsible for the training of the youth in the area. Speaking at the ceremony, the Project Manager of SISS, Mr Yaw Asante, indicated that the beneficiaries received training in other fields such as savings, hygiene and sanitation, civic rights and responsibilities.   Beneficiaries receive free training He said SISS, over the years, received funding from Comic Relief in the UK, hence the free training for the youth. While expressing appreciation to the donors, he  called on them to do more so that it could expand the initiative to all the regions in the country. To help beneficiaries start up their own businesses, Mr Asante disclosed that the trainees would benefit from flexible loans from SISS. He said he was optimistic that the beneficiaries could do well on the job market. Mr Asante encouraged the trainees to be ambassadors of their communities wherever they found themselves.    Beneficiaries advised  The head pastor of the Hope Community Chapel and Orphanage, Rev. Randolph Ashlley, advised the youth to eschew laziness, pride and arrogance and challenged them to be positive thinkers and prepared to make a change in the country. He further charged them to save towards the future to avoid being dependent on society, adding that “society must benefit from you.”  The trainees were awarded certificates of participation. Eight of them received special awards for outstanding performance.

The Ghana National College of Physicians and Surgeons has recognised and honoured three scholars as honorary fellows for their outstanding contribution to medical education research, especially at the postgraduate level. They are Professor Kwaku Danso-Boafo, Professor Dr Rolf Horstmann and Professor Aaron Lawson. Another group of physicians also received recognition for meritorious, outstanding and distinguished service to the college at an awards dinner organised later in the day to climax the 10th anniversary celebration of the college. In an address, the Rector of the College, Professor David Ofori-Adjei, expressed the hope that the new fellows and members would carry out their professional responsibilities in a manner that would enhance the image of the college and abide by the tenets of the pledge they have taken. He said the college, since its inception, has enrolled 1,018 residents into membership training and 174 in fellowship training and, so far, 438 have been awarded membership qualification and another 15 fellowship qualification.   Challenges in attracting specialists According to Prof. Ofori-Adjei, the college continues to have challenges in attracting residents into specialties such as Anaesthesia, Family Medicine, Laboratory Medicine, Psychiatry, among others, and added that the college would continue to pursue avenues to enhance interest in these specialties and improve on the mix of specialists. Professor Ofori-Adjei asserted that it was important for the health sector to strengthen its human resource database to allow for prompt tracking of specialists and other health personnel for healthcare planning and training purposes. He announced that the college had obtained data on projected graduate output for the next five years from all the medical and dental schools in the country.   Medical institutions in districts The Chairman of the National Development Planning Commission, Mr P. V. Obeng, who represented President John Mahama, announced that government was considering putting up medical institutions in the various districts to provide easy access to the increasing demand for quality healthcare delivery. He said effective modern methods in healthcare delivery would also be provided in the districts, and urged the doctors to expand the scope of monitoring to encourage more investors to the health sector. He said the, government alone could not fund all health activities and called for public private partnership in the sector in order for the country to meet the health needs of the people.

 A Japanese company, Toyota Housing Corporation, is to construct a $25-million fabricating factory in Tema which will form the basis for the construction of the 200 senior high schools announced by the government. Currently, a team of technical experts is in the country to conduct feasibility study of local materials available, their specification and pricing. That came to light when members of the team called on their Ghanaian counterparts, Ghana Japan Oil  (GJO), in Accra last Wednesday. Japanese technical experts The study is the third in a series of visits to Ghana by the Japanese technical experts on behalf of Ghana Japan Oil’s interest in the construction of several significant infrastructural projects in the country. Briefing journalists, the Managing Director of Ghana Japan Oil, Mr Leslie Tamakloe, said the team would visit several Ghanaian construction/building material factories, fabricators and suppliers of cement, steel, and concrete blocks among others.   Construction of schools under trees He said the team would also visit a couple of basic schools, particularly “schools under trees”, and community senior high schools in the sub-urban areas of Accra. “The visit will inform the conclusion of GJO’s infrastructural development proposals to the government for the delivery of very high quality, modern, internationally rated infrastructure initially for primary and high schools for the renaissance of the country’s development,” he said.   Training of local technicians Mr Tamakloe announced the training of a new breed of building technicians and engineers in collaboration with several polytechnics in the country and Japan and also support the training of selected local Ghanaian contractors who had the skill in the use of rapid construction technologies. The technology, he noted, would see the construction time per school decrease to a couple of months, fully equipped and turnkey.   Fully equipped schools “Each school is proposed to have the full complement of fully equipped science and computer laboratories, vocational training centre, canteen, library, dispensary and multipurpose auditorium, with full accommodation for teachers as flats and bungalows for heads of institution,” Mr Tamakloe said. Due diligence The Manager Planning Group, Special Project Division of Toyota Housing Corporation, Mr Shinji Tajima, who led the Japanese, gave the assurance that due diligence would be done to ensure that quality work was delivered.

 A retired Supreme Court judge, Mr Justice Stephen A. Brobbey, has suggested a comprehensive judicial training for traditional rulers to enable them to properly handle arbitrations in their areas of jurisdictions. He also called for the modernisation of traditions and customs to conform to present-day societal needs. Those measures, he stated, would help advance society’s cause. Mr Justice Brobbey made the remarks when he delivered a lecture to mark the 2013 Akwantukese Festival of the chiefs and people of New Juaben at Koforidua yesterday. The Akwantukese Festival is to commemorate the migration of the people from Juaben in Asante to New Juaben in the 1870s. According to Justice Brobbey, changes in society, as a result of modernisation, demanded that traditional rulers must be educated and trained in judicial matters because apart from the courts, they also arbitrated on issues brought before them in their respective palaces and also served on public boards. Speaking on the topic, “Evolution of Chieftaincy in Ghana: Harmonising Tradition,” he said although he was not of the view that the qualification for the installation of a chief should be solely based on education, it was ideal that prospective chiefs must be educated to be able to lead their people.   “Traditional rulers, apart from presiding over the adjudication of cases, also serve on public boards, with English as the medium of expression, and how do you expect a stark illiterate chief, who is only abreast of traditional norms in his area, to adjudicate cases and contribute during board meetings?” Justice Brobbey questioned.   Installation  Concerning the making of a chief, Justice Brobbey said although every  society had its own rules, eligible candidates should be competent and financially sound, since they would be catering for those in their palaces, as well as their families; otherwise, they would be tempted to do what was not expected of them such as selling stool lands or paraphernalia to meet such obligations. “Modern life demands that a chief dresses well to appear in public, accompanied by his entourage who must be fed and transported at his expense, and how does he do all these without the necessary funds?” Justice Brobbey asked.   ‘Kasapreko’ With regards to the traditional concept that no one should speak after a chief had spoken, he said although there were no built-in procedures for corrections after the chief had spoken, that might not apply to areas where decisions had been taken after committee meetings and elders had carefully dealt with the issues before the chief was asked  to make the ultimate pronouncement which reflected the decision of the majority.   Abolition of chieftancy  Touching on the abolition of chieftancy as perceived by a section of the public on the grounds that it had become anachronistic, Justice Brobbey expressed a dissenting view, with the explanation that its establishment had been guaranteed and entrenched in the 1992 Constitution and, therefore, would be difficult for an individual to advocate such a move.   Akwantukese  Earlier, the Omanhene of New Juaben, Daasebre (Prof) Oti Boateng, in his welcome address, said the Akwantukese Festival, as had been continuously celebrated over the years, is aimed at promoting the socio-economic development of the community by educating the youth on their origin, traditions and customs, as well as serving as a tourist attraction for people all over the world.   Unity Apart from that, Daasebre Oti Boateng said the festival had also reinforced unity between Asante and New Juaben. He called on traditional rulers to work together in the traditional councils, regional and national houses of chiefs to address chieftancy problems for peace and tranquility.