Thursday, 9 January 2025

Former GPHA Director urges NDC sympathisers to exercise restraint in their protests at public institutions (Online, January 9, 2025)

 


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A former Director of Port at the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Jacob Kwabla Adorkor, has urged some agitated youth, said to be sympathisers of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), to exercise restraint in their protest against the removal of some top managers of public institutions.  

Addressing a group of irate youth who stormed the premises of GPHA in Tema on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, demanding the immediate exit of appointees of the previous government, Mr Adorkor cautioned them to allow for proper handing over and investigations to be carried out.  

Mr Adorkor, who served GPHA between 1989 and 2019 in various capacities, including as Port Operations Manager, Stevedore Manager, and Director of Port at Takoradi Port, advised the protesters to be patient, assuring them that their grievances had already been addressed by the party hierarchy.  

The protesters targeted key establishments, including TDC Ghana Ltd, Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO), GPHA, and Cocobod, calling for the resignation of top managers appointed under the former administration.  

Mr Adorkor, who was reassigned in 2017 to the Ministry of Transport as Technical Advisor of Maritime Affairs until his retirement in 2019, stated that he had been dispatched by the NDC office to address the aggrieved party members.  

“We are only waiting for a day or two for the proper things to be done. But take note, we have taken over, and because we have taken over, there should be proper handing over. If we want to do proper investigation, then we need proper handing over,” he said.  

He further urged the party members to allow for proper procedures, emphasising that, “if you don't want proper investigation, a lot of things you will not know, so let us take our time. We are already in control, and we will make sure everything is done appropriately to your satisfaction.”  

Mr Adorkor also assured the protesters that the party leadership would address their concerns.  

Background

In June 2019, the Supreme Court ruled that the removal of heads of public corporations as a result of a change of government was unconstitutional.  

In a unanimous decision, a seven-member panel of the court, presided over by the Chief Justice, Justice Sophia Akuffo, held that per Article 190 Clause 1(b) of the 1992 Constitution, public corporations were part of the Public Services of Ghana. Therefore, such persons were public service officers whose appointments were protected by the Constitution.  

According to the court, the appointments of such public service officers were governed by Article 195 of the Constitution.  

The removal of such public service officers, the court ruled, must be done in accordance with the terms and conditions of their contract of engagement, or it must be justified, as stipulated in Article 191 of the Constitution.  

Article 195 Clause 1 of the Constitution gives the President the power to appoint public service officers, but only with the advice of the governing board of the specific corporation, “given in consultation with the Public Services Commission.”  

Article 191(b) states: “A member of the public service shall not be dismissed or removed from office or reduced in rank or otherwise punished without a just cause.”  

By its decision, the Supreme Court repealed a section of the Presidential (Transition) Act 2012 (Act 845) which terminated the appointments of chief executives or director-generals of public corporations, statutory boards, and authorities upon the assumption of office by a new President.  

“To the extent that Section 14 of the Presidential (Transition) Act 2012 (Act 845) requires the chief executives or director-generals (however described) of public boards or corporations to cease to hold office upon the assumption of office by a person elected as President of the Republic of Ghana, the same is hereby declared to be unconstitutional and void for being in contravention of Articles 190 and 191 of the Constitution,” the court held.  

The unanimous decision of the court was read by Justice Professor Nii Ashie Kotey, with Justices Jones Dotse, Sule Gbadegbe, Anthony A. Benin, Samuel K. Marful-Sau, and Nene Amegatcher concurring.

 

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/former-gpha-director-urges-ndc-sympathisers-to-exercise-restraint-in-their-protests-at-public-institutions.html

Irate youth storm public institutions in Tema - Demand exit of NPP appointees(Daily Graphic, Thursday, January 9, 2025 (Back Page )


A group of young people stormed the premises of some public institutions in Tema in the Greater Accra Region yesterday, to demand the exit of appointees of the previous
government.

The angry youth, clad in red, thronged the premises of TDC Ghana Ltd and Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Volta Aluminium Company Limited, (VALCO), demanding the resignation
of top managers.

One of the aggrieved protestors, Kwame Dankwa, told journalists: “We do not want any appointee of the previous administration to remain in office” as they went about locking up some offices.

“‘As you can see we didn’t cause any commotion, we don’t have any problem with anybody, we came here to perform a task.

However, if we come back or get information that they are doing something different, that will be a different story,” Dankwa stated.

The chaotic scenes resulted in an altercation between some workers of the institutions visited and the youth, forcing some of the workers to
flee. 

A timely deployment of police personnel from the Tema Regional Police Command prevented the physical assault on the workers.

Writer’s email:Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

 

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-news-irate-youth-storm-public-institutions-in-tema-demand-exit-of-npp-appointees.html

Meaningful Life International empowers 15 youth with vocational skills(Daily Graphic, Thursday, January 9, 2025 Page 20)


 

Wednesday, 1 January 2025

We are ready to support incoming NDC administration - PNP's new year message (Graphic Online, January 1, 2025)


 

The People’s National Party (PNP) says it is committed and ready to support the incoming John Dramani Mahama led administration.

“If you ever need any of our policies or assistance, they are readily available. Ghana must come first before political symbols and affiliations. Let us all work together to build a united and prosperous Ghana for future generations,” the PNP stated in its new year message issued by chairperson and leader, Janet Asana Nabla.

While congratulating the President-elect, on the mandate entrusted in his hands, she encouraged him to use his regime to create a meaningful and lasting impact on the lives of Ghanaians. 

“We urge you to focus on building a better Ghana rather than engaging in the witch-hunting of political opponents. Leadership requires vision, fairness, and humility to serve all citizens, regardless of their political affiliations.”

The PNP also admonished the President-elect to seek God’s guidance in choosing his appointees, stressing that “some individuals may appear loyal but are merely bootlickers who will praise you even when your actions deviate from the right path, solely to gain favour. Such individuals can be detrimental to your administration’s success. “

The PNP also urged the incoming president to be bold to fire appointees who fail to perform or exploit their positions for personal gain emphasising that Ghana deserves leaders who work selflessly for the common good. 

“We wish to assure you that constructive criticism from the PNP does not stem from hatred for your government. Instead, it reflects our commitment to helping you succeed in building a better Ghana. Our feedback aims to ensure that every decision you make is in our nation's and its people's best interest. 

The PNP also called on Mr. Mahama to swiftly implement the Affirmative Action Law (Gender Equality) Act 2024, which mandates that women constitute a minimum of 30 per cent of members in key decision-making bodies, in his government.

“This progressive increase aims to reach 50 per cent representation by 2030, promoting gender equity and inclusivity in our nation’s development.” the PNP Leader said 

Writer’s email: Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

 

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/we-are-ready-to-support-incoming-ndc-administration-pnps-new-year-message.html

Tuesday, 31 December 2024

GNFS investigates fire outbreak at Ashaiman Middle East scrap yard (Graphic Online, Tuesday, December 31, 2024)

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) is investigating the cause of a fire that engulfed a scrap yard at Ashaiman Middle East on Monday, December 30, 2024.

The Monday afternoon blaze destroyed approximately 17 metal containers and their contents.  

The Public Relations Officer of the GNFS, Tema Region, Divisional Officer (DO) Grade II, Ebenezer Yenzu, informed journalists at the scene that a combined fire service crew from seven fire stations was deployed to contain the situation and bring the fire under control. Fortunately, no casualties were reported.  

DO II Yenzu highlighted the prevailing dry weather conditions as a possible contributing factor to the incident and appealed to the public to adopt precautionary measures to prevent similar occurrences.  

He also called on members of the public to volunteer information to assist in determining the cause of the fire.

 

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/video-gnfs-investigates-fire-outbreak-at-ashaiman-middle-east-scrap-yard.html

Wednesday, 25 December 2024

Warehouse fire will not affect progress of Saglemi Affordable Housing Project(Graphic Online, December 25, 2024)

Warehouse fire will not affect progress of Saglemi Affordable Housing Project

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Tuesday fire at the warehouse of the Saglemi Affordable Housing project was started by some labourers who had been engaged to clear the camp site for actual redevelopment to start.

In the process, the labourers set fire to clear some weeds they had gathered; however, the fire got out of control and spread to one of the external warehouses containing expired materials. 

The Ghana National Fire Service was therefore called in to handle the situation.

The Managing Director of Quarm-LMI Consortium, Kofi Adabor Ofori-Amanfo, has given the assurance that the warehouse fire will not impact the project.

Two sheds, which serve as warehouses and are located 477 meters from the existing housing project, caught fire on December 24, 2024.

In an interview with journalists after the fire on Wednesday, December 25, 2024, the Managing Director of Quarm LMI, Kofi Adabor Ofori-Amanfo, noted that the affected warehouse contained cartons of plumbing materials and some pipes used in the previous estate development.

He emphasized that this destruction would not affect the progress of the project under the new management.

He stated that the damaged materials had expired, adding that most of them would not be reused when the project restarts in 2025.

Cause of fire

Touching on the cause of the fire, Mr. Ofori-Amanfo said some labourers had been engaged to clear the camp site for actual redevelopment to start. 

He explained that in the process, the labourers set fire to clear some weeds they had gathered, but the fire got out of control and spread to one of the external warehouses containing the expired materials.

He said personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service at Sege were called in to handle the situation.

Mr. Ofori-Amanfo reiterated that the houses at the scheme had not been affected by the fire, adding that the two sheds contained cartons of plumbing materials and pipes that were used in previous works.

He clarified that most of the burnt materials had expired and would not be reused under the current development, which will start next year.

Mr. Ofori-Amanfo debunked assertions that documents were lost, stressing that the affected shed was not an office.

The MD said the fire incident would not impact the project since new materials would be brought in to complete it.

Saglemi Intact

The Minister of Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, who was accompanied by the Chief Director of the Ministry to the site on Wednesday morning, emphasized that contrary to speculation that the housing project had been burnt, the project was still intact.

While waiting for the investigative report from the Ghana National Fire Service into the warehouse fire, the Minister admonished the developer to adhere to the relevant regulations and building codes as they prepare to start the redevelopment and also stick to agreed timelines.

Selection

Quarm-LMI Consortium was selected in October 2024 as the preferred developer to complete the Saglemi Housing project. 

This followed the conclusion of negotiations and the receipt of a report on negotiations from a government team comprising representatives of the Ministry of Works and Housing, the Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Finance, and Deloitte, with technical evaluation support from the Ghana Institute of Surveyors.

The company is expected to complete the 1,506 Saglemi housing units, which will then be sold to the public, with a focus on salaried employees and workers' unions.

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/warehouse-fire-will-not-affect-progress-of-saglemi-affordable-housing-projec.html

 

Friday, 20 December 2024

RMU ready to partner next govt to equip youth with employable skills (Daily Graphic, Friday, December 20, 2024 Page 38)


The acting Vice-Chancellor of the Regional Maritime University (RMU), Dr Jethro Wilbert Brooks Jnr, has declared the university’s commitment to partnering the next government to provide young people with critical employable skills.  

He said Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) and apprenticeship training held the key to reducing the rising rate of youth unemployment, promoting innovation, and addressing social issues in Ghanaian communities.

“The promised apprenticeship programme is so vital for empowering our youth and enhancing our workforce to create pathways for skills development that will meet the demands of the economy in Ghana and the world at large,” Dr Brooks said at a ceremony to graduate the sixth batch of skilled mobile crane and forklift trainees at the RMU campus at Nungua in the Greater Accra Region last  Wednesday.

A total of 54 graduates, including four women, received certificates in Forklift and Mobile Crane operation having completed an intensive eight-week training programme in the discipline.

The training is a partnership between the RMU and the National Association for Heavy-Duty Equipment Operators Ghana (NAHOEG) under a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2022 to enhance the skills of operators by equipping them with the needed skills and knowledge, thereby making their profession more relevant to society and the job market.

Empowerment

Dr Brooks said being the apex maritime training institution in West Africa, RMU was prepared to use its fully developed and approved Ghana Maritime Authority Marine Engine Mechanic (MEM) programme, a six-month youth development programme for preparing ratings for sea-going purposes, as well as the university’s two and four years traditional training programmes to provide young people with greater opportunities in the job market and empower them to contribute meaningfully to national development.

“With the MEM programme, one does not need a West African Examinations Council (WAEC) certificate. All you need is to know how to read and write,” he said, adding that after seven months of training and vetting, a graduate could be on sea for the first nine to twelve months.

Dr Brooks Jnr disclosed that currently, four major shipping lines took approximately 200 graduates every year and were still asking for more.


He reiterated RMU’s dedication to fostering youth employment, which he described as pivotal for regional security and development.

The President of NAHOEG, Dominic Kofi Eyiah, encouraged the graduates to embrace the responsibility to contribute to the development of Africa by effectively utilising the skills and knowledge gained to make a meaningful impact. He also advised the graduates to uphold high standards of professionalism.

The Member of Parliament (MP) for the Krowor Constituency, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, acknowledged RMU’s role in aligning their training offerings with the demands of the job market, ensuring that graduates were well-prepared for employment.

She said such training programmes fitted perfectly in the 24-hour economic policy of the President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, where factories and production plants would require such essential skills to contribute to production and enhance productivity.


The MP for Ledzokuku Constituency, Benjamin Narteh Ayiku, also admonished the graduates to utilise the skills received from the university to the benefit of the nation

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-news-rmu-ready-to-partner-next-govt-to-equip-youth-with-employable-skills.html#google_vignette

 

Former GPHA Director urges NDC sympathisers to exercise restraint in their protests at public institutions (Online, January 9, 2025)

                        A former Director of Port at the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Jacob Kwabla Adorkor, has urged some ag...