Lack of toilets in schools hindering girls education

Date: Jun 04 , 2018 , 09:01

Author: Benjamin Xornam Glover

It is estimated that almost 50 percent of basic schools in the country do not have access to toilets and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities.

This situation it is said makes it difficult for girls in their menstrual period to stay in school during that time of the month.

Lack of toilets in schools hindering girls education

As part of activities marking this year’s Menstrual Hygiene Day, an awareness programme was held in Tema aimed at educating girls, boys and stakeholders on the benefits of menstrual hygiene for girls.

It was held on the theme: “No more limits, empowering women and girls through menstrual hygiene management.” More than 1,000 students of basic and second-cycle schools in the Tema metropolis attended the programme.

The event was organised by the Ghana Education Service, the World Bank, GAMA Sanitation and Water Project, the Global Partnership for Output-Based Aid (GPOBA), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Unilever Ghana Foundation.

In an interview with journalists, the Deputy Director in charge of Environmental Health and Management at the Ministry of Sanitation and Water Resources, Mr Kweku Quansah, said the celebration of the day would help break the silence and build awareness of menstruation to enable women and girls to reach their full potential.

Access to WASH facilities

According to Mr Quansah, statistics from the Education Management Information System (EMIS) said close to 50 per cent of all basic schools in the country did not have access to toilets and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) facilities and that ought to be addressed.

He stressed that the lack of access to WASH facilities and regular water supply sources had made it difficult for students to use school latrines and promote positive hygienic practices and habits.

He called on metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) to prioritise the provision of these facilities to enable the children to learn in a clean, safe and healthy learning environment.

“If a girl stays in school for one year, she is able to reduce the infant mortality rate by close to five to 10 per cent. There is a direct impact on attracting girls to stay in school and also providing them with WASH facilities so that when they are in their menses, they do not stay out of school,” Mr Quansah stated.

He said in many rural settings, many girls dropped out of school due to the lack of WASH facilities, urging assemblies to take up the challenge and provide such facilities.

Education

The acting Tema Central Sub-Metro Director of Health Services, Dr Akosua Osei Manu, advised the girls to wash their hands with soap under running water before putting on their sanitary pads and ensure proper use of the sanitary pads to prevent leakages.

She also stressed the need for all stakeholders to provide support to girls to enable them to manage their menstrual periods by observing good menstrual hygiene practices.

Local materials

Two traditional rulers, the Divisional Chief of Gomoa Akyempim Traditional Area, Nana Ogyedom Ama Tsetsewa, and the Queenmother of the Twifo Hemaa Traditional Area, Nana Adjoa Timaa, bemoaned the lack of information and sanitary products in some parts of the country and stressed on the use of clean, cost-saving menstrual management materials by adolescent girls to deal with menstrual hygiene.

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/lack-of-toilets-in-schools-hindering-girls-education.html

Damaged system at Tema Port to disrupt gas supplies

Date: Jun 02 , 2018 Back page  

Author: Benjamin Xornam Glover

The ruptured loading arm

Ghana’s Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) supplies are expected to face some disruptions due to an  unanticipated damage to a loading arm at the Oil Jetty at the Tema Port.
The situation has necessitated the suspension of LPG operations at the jetty, which handles about 80 per cent of LPG that comes into the country.
The loading arm ruptured due to strong winds during a discharge of the product from a cargo vessel.
The jetty is a birthing facility where oil/ LPG  tankers dock at ports of entry to offload cargo, which is piped or transmitted to the storage facilities onshore.
DamageIn an interview, the Harbour Master, Capt. Christian Yeboah-Asante said on May 25, 2018 at about 1 p.m. while the product was being discharged from a tanker, MT Junefrau Explorer, a severe storm occured causing the vessel to move.
He said the loading arms have been designed to allow a certain level of movement of the vessel, however, during the storm, the vessel opened up,  causing damage to the loading arm, which is basically a steel pipe that permits the transfer of products from the vessel to a storage facility.
The captain, however, said the damage to the loading arm would not affect discharge of other petroleum products at the jetty.
No cause for alarmDespite the suspension of LPG operations at the Tema jetty, the Ministry of Energy and the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) have allayed fears of LPG shortage.
The Deputy Minister of Energy, in charge of Petroleum, Dr Mohammed Amin Adam, and the Chief Executive Officer of the National Petroleum Authority (NPA), Hassan Tampuli, who toured the facility last Thursday  to inspect the damaged portion, insisted that alternative steps had been taken to ensure regular supply of LPG to the domestic market.
Dr Adam said there were alternative routes that the government was going to activate through the NPA to ensure constant supply of the product to the market.
"As you already know, Ghana Gas supply 50 per cent of the product to the market but they have been operating below capacity so we will have to fall on them to increase supply," he said.
The minister added that the old bauxite jetty in Takoradi would also be activated to receive vessels for the off loading of the product.
"We are going to use the appropriate options available to us to ensure that we continue to supply gas to the market. We will not have any shortage of LPG. The product will continue to flow into the market. This is a natural disaster but we are not going to sleep over it," he further assured.
Reserve stockFor his part, Mr Tampuli said  the country had two and half weeks of supply which was enough to sustain the market as the engineers worked to fix the problem.
He said in addition to the alternatives suggested by the minister, the NPA had been assured by engineers working on the ruptured pipes that the materials needed for the repair works would arrive in the country on June 1, 2018  from either Nigeria or Cote d'Ivoire.
Upon taking delivery of the materials, he said, it would take about four days to fix the loading arm.
"We have a window of seven days to fix this and we have been assured by the engineers that it is possible they can fix it within four days. If it is possible that they can do it over the weekend, they are prepared to do so," Mr Tampuli indicated

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/damaged-system-at-tema-port-to-disrupt-gas-supplies.html

TMA presents outboard motors to fishermen

June 1, 2018 Back Page

The Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) has presented 72 outboard motors to artisanal fishermen operating  at the Tema fishing harbour canoe basin.

The outboard motors were sold to the beneficiary fishermen at a subsidized price of about GH¢9,000, representing a subsidy of about 60 percent while the government through the TMA bored the remaining 40 percent of the cost of the outboard motors which range between GH¢15,000 and GH¢16,000 on the open market.

Support for fishermen

The Greater Accra Regional Minister, Mr Ishmael Ashitey who the presentation on behalf of the government on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, said the programme is a continuation of a subsidy policy initiated by the previous NDC administration to support artisanal fisherfolks to acquire fishing gears at a subsidised cost.

He said when the NPP administration took over and recognising of the role fishing plays in the economic development of the area decided to persue the programme to support the fishing industry.

Mr Ashitey said when he assumed office as Regional Minister, some canoe owners who had already made payment but were yet to recieve their outboard motors, approached him and appealed to him to intervene.

He said the he,  in consultation with the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) and the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development took prompt action to ensure that the affected canoe owners were supplied with the outboard motors.

He tasked the MCE to ensure that the gear goes to real fishermen and not business people who would want to take advantage of the subsidy programme for their selfish interest.

Hygiene
Mr Ashitey disclosed that food hygiene had been identified as a major challenge in terms of export of fish, enphasising that it was prudent that sanitation conditions at the various beaches meet high hygienic standards.

He said there is the need for fishermen and fish processors to ensure hygienic sanitation conditions at the landing beaches, and fishing communities in general, so that the fishing industry could take advantage out there, in terms of export of fish which could earn foreign incomes for themselves and the country.

Training
The Metropolitan Chief Executive for Tema, Mr Felix Mensah Anang-La said apart from the support to canoe owners,  the assembly had also initiated some programmes for the fish processors to train them  in basic records and book keeping. This would enable them to acquire knowledge in accounting and build their capacities to enhance their fishing business.

A  Chief Fisherman from the Awudun area, Nii Ashitey Odametey II, called for stringent enforcement of the Fisheries Law to ensure that the industry is sustained.

He bemoaned the increasing numbers of foriegn vessels on the Ghanaian waters who he alledged where gradually driving the artisanal fishers out of business due to their method of fishing.

He said said the government had the responsibility of saving the industry from collapsing by ensuring that fishermen who flouted the fishing laws and regulations were dealt with.

The Paramount Chief of the Tema Traditional Area, Nii Adjei Krakue II, has lauded the government for sustaining the programme, adding that it will go a long way to boost fishing
which plays role in the economic development of the area.

Wilmar Africa Ltd launches new soap products on the Ghanaian Market.

By Benjamin Xornan Glover,TEMA

African Consumer Product Limited has introduced three soap brands on to the Ghanaian market with the view of revolutionizing the soap and detergent industry.

The new brands are Jamaa laundry bar soap, Alife luxury soap and Largo multipurpose soap which all comes with fresh and mild fragrance that nourishes the skin and make bathing and washing experience refreshing.

African Consumer Products Limited is a joint ventureship between Wilmar Africa Limited based in Ghana and Kapa Oil Refineries Ltd, a leading manufacturer of quality edible oils, detergent powder, baking powder, laundry soap and glycerine from Kenya.

Launch
Speaking to journalists after a "Distributors and media launch" at the company's premises in Community Two, Tema on Friday, May18, 2018, the General Manager of the Wilmar Africa Limited Mr Kwame Wiafe said the introduction of the new brands was to completely change the face of the soap and detergent making and offer consumer quality products.

'The good thing is that we are agile, nimble footed and willing to do crazy stuff  that will excite the consumer while transforming the soap and detergent market,' he said.

He said the detergent market was becoming boring with people producing and offering products that do not meet the expectations of consumers hence they are through innovation introducing these new brands which the consumer can never resist

'We believe we have come up with a good and  strong preposition for the consumer and also making sure our trade partners get value for money," he said.

Integration
Mr. Wiafe said the new venture represents  a forward integration in his outfit's  operations in Ghana because, “We refine oil palm and we get fresh stearin which we use for soap making, and immediately we refine, we bring it for production, which maintain its freshness.”

He noted that the new products are in quality and economically priced stressing that these products are designed to be ultimate choice for domestic households in Ghana and beyond.

Preposition

The Brand Manager of the Africa Consumer Product Limited, Ms. Eva Njeri Njeru who introduced the new products said Alife is a luxury toilet soap which came in small and family sizes with a blend of delicate rose, coconut care, lemon and aloe vera fragrances.

The Jamaa laundry bar soap,  compared to the others on the market is wrapped thus making it easier for consumers to handle.

She explained that the wrappings retains the fragrance and it also lathers well with little effort.

Ms Njeru also introduced the Largo soap which  is a multipurpose soap with anti-bacterial elements embedded in it which is gentle on hands and skin.

Navy impounds tankers, canoe for engaging in illegal fuel trade

Date: May 27 , 2018. Author: Benjamin Xornam Glover

The Eastern Naval Command (ENC) of the Ghana Navy has seized a canoe and three fuel tankers involved in siphoning fuel at the canoe basin of the Tema Port.

The canoe with the large storage compartment from which the fuel was being pumped. INSET: The fuel tankers into which the fuel was being siphoned

The Navy also arrested three persons on suspicion of engaging in illegal fuel trade.

The arrest was made about 1 a.m. Friday, following intelligence that was picked by the Navy that some canoe operators and fuel tanker drivers were supposedly siphoning fuel into the tankers.

Briefing

Speaking to journalists in Tema, the Command Operations Officer of the ENC, Commander Isaac Mahama Abu, said about 11p.m. last Thursday, the Navy on their usual patrols around the canoe basin at the Port, saw a canoe with a large storage compartment pumping fuel into a fuel tanker.

He said a team of Navy personnel was despatched to the scene and on arrival they discovered that the canoe had connected long hoses to the tanker and was pumping fuel into one of them, with the two other tankers standing by.

"We felt that it was wrong for such an activity to be taking place around that time, without any arrangement for a fire engine or any other precautionary safety measures in place," he said.

"The timing of such an activity was wrong so we arrested the drivers for further investigation and to determine if it was the right thing to be done."

Installations

Commander Abu pointed out that it was more worrying for such an activity to be taking place near national installations such as the Karpowership and that the action of the Navy was a pre-emptive measure to avert any possible mishap from happening.

He said the Navy was collaborating with the National Petroleum Authority and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) to conduct further investigations into the act.

Meanwhile, the three fuel tankers, each with a capacity of up to 8,900 gallons (33,690 litres) and with registration numbers GT 2612-17, GN 2835-13 and GN 2635-13, their respective drivers, as well as the canoe, have been impounded by the Navy.

The crew members aboard the canoe, however, managed to escape.

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/navy-impounds-tankers-canoe.html

Demolition of four buildings at Kaizer Flats begins

Date: May 29 , 2018. Author: Benjamin Xornam Glover

Personnel of the 48 Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Army on Monday started demolishing the four dilapidated buildings in the Kaizer Flats enclave in Tema Community Four.

The Tema Development Company Ltd (TDCL) awarded the contract to the 48 Engineers Regiment to clear the structures after a law court had declared them uninhabitable.

Personnel of the 48 Engineers Regiment of the Ghana Army at work in the Kaizer Flats enclave in Tema Community Four

Demolition

As of 10.30 a.m. when the Daily Graphic visited the site, three excavators had been deployed to pull down the structures.

Some personnel of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) were also on hand to sprinkle water on the debris as the exercise went on to minimise the spread of dust.

Roads in front of the structures had also been barricaded and the routes diverted to prevent any mishap.

Signs had also been mounted at various points to warn pedestrians about the work being executed.

Ahead of Monday's exercise, electricity and water supply to the affected blocks was disconnected

The demolition exercise is expected to be completed in three months.

Evacuation

In February this year, about 300 individuals, representing 60 families, occupying the four blocks of flats, earmarked for demolition, were evacuated under the joint supervision of officials of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the TDCL, the Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA), the Ghana Police Service and personnel from the National Security.

Speaking to the Daily Graphic, the Protocol and Administrative Officer of the TDCL, Mr Ian Okwei, said prior to the demolition, residents of the enclave had been briefed by stakeholders on the mode of demolition, timelines for the exercise and safety measures to be adhered to prior, during and after the exercise, which is expected to last about 16 weeks maximum.

He said as a measure to control the dust emanating from the site, personnel of the GNFS had been contracted to be at the site and spray water on the debris as the demolition went on to reduce dust inhalation and attend to other emergencies that might come about.

The knocking down of the structures will enable the TDCL to redevelop the place into modern apartments, as part of efforts to meet the country’s housing deficit.

History

The Kaizer Flats were built in the 1960s to provide residential accommodation for workers in the industrial area. Over the years, the structures outlived their purpose and developed severe structural defects as well

The four flats, which are blocks 407, 408, 410 and 411, had since 1982 been declared uninhabitable by the Architectural and Engineering Services Limited (AESL), but the occupants had been in and out of court battling with the authorities over the issue until a definite directive was given by the High Court in 2018, asking the occupants to vacate by January 31, 2018 for its original owners, the TDCL,  to carry out a demolition exercise.

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/demolition-of-four-buildings-at-kaizer-flats-begins.html

Oil Tanker splits into two at Tema Port and spills oil

Date: May 29 , 2018.   

Author: Benjamin Xornam Glover

A Bahamas registered oil tanker vessel, MT Alice which had called at the anchorage of the Tema port has caved in and split into two leading to some oil spillage.

The accident happened at about 9:42pm on Saturday, May 26, 2018.

The vessel which was carrying 1,200 metric tons of light crude oil, saw the stern drifting away from the bow.

Authorities from the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority GPHA, Ghana Navy, Ghana Maritime Authority and other allied agencies managed to transfer all the remaining light crude oil onboard the split vessel into oil tanker trucks which were brought in on time to prevent any further oil spillage in the Ghanaian waters.

Rescue

The vessel had called at the anchorage on Saturday, May 12, 2018 and had a crew made up of 11 Nigerians and two Ghanaians.

According to Graphic Online sources, but for the timely intervention of another vessel, MT Colled Alice which was positioned nearby which went to the rescue of the crew, the incident would have recorded serious casualties.

Sources at the Port, told Graphic Online, they suspected the vessel was in a poor condition and lacked maintenance.

Security

The Security manager at the Tema Port, Col Joseph Punamane in an interview said this is the first time such an accident has been recorded at the anchorage of the Tema port or anywhere in the Ghanaian waters.

He said though the cause of the accident is unknown, the various stakeholders will begin their investigations to unravel the truth, warning persons found culpable will be dealt with.

Maintenance

Meanwhile, the Deputy Minister of Transport, Mr Daniel Titus Glover has called on the Ghana Maritime Authority(GMA) and other stakeholders to ensure that vessels that call at the country's ports are sea worthy to prevent avoidable accidents from occurring.

In an interview with journalists following the accident, he indicated that the GMA has a great role to play in ensuring vessels that call in at the ports are in good condition.

The Deputy Minister of Transport bemoaned the state of the vessel and raised concerns over the rusty state of the some of them which he said could easily pass for scraps, and called on the appropriate agencies to act.

"Immediately I saw the tanker, the question I asked myself was, is this sea worthy? We have surveyors who assess ships that call at the port. This falls directly under the GMA and I will bring this to their attention," he said.

Writer's email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh

via :  https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/oil-tanker-splits-into-two-at-tema-port-and-spills-oil.html

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Fake policeman arrested at Ashaiman

Date: May 14 , 2018 

Author: Benjamin Xornam Glover

The Tema Regional Police Command has arrested a 33-year-old man for allegedly posing as a police officer.

The suspect, Joshua Asante, who allegedly claimed to be a police officer with the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police, (ACP) is alleged to have defrauded many people under the pretence of helping to enlist them in the Ghana Police Service.

The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Tema Regional Police Command, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP). Mr Joseph Benefo Darkwah at a press briefing on said the suspect succeeded in persuading his victims, who are mainly his church members to part with various sums of money amounting to GHc6100.

Mr. Darkwah said the suspect after taking the money, failed to honour his promise adding that his victims reported the case to the Ashaiman Police.

Interrogation

The Police PRO said the suspect was arrested on Thursday May 10, 2018 and during interrogation, he claimed he was an IT expert from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST).

DSP Darkwah said investigations were still underway after which the suspect would be charged.

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

via : https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/fake-policeman-arrested-in-ashaiman.html

Motorway accident kills one person, others injured

Date: May 18 , 2018 

Author: Benjamin Xornam Glover

One person died Friday morning in a motor accident on the Tema-Accra motorway.

The accident happened close to the Accra end of the express road at about 11:45am.

According to an eyewitness, the accident occurred when a red Mercedes Sprinter passenger bus with registration number GT 3756 - 17 carrying 23 passengers and heading towards Accra from Ashaiman burst two rear tyres.

The vehicle somersaulted and landed on the road.

The injured persons including the driver who lost both legs were rushed to the 37 Military Hospital for treatment.

The accident vehicle, which was badly mangled, was towed away from the accident scene after policemen arrived to control traffic.

Writer's email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh 

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/motorway-accident-kills-one-person-others-injured.html

Lebanese business man shot dead by gunmen in Tema

Date: Feb 28 , 2018  

Author: Benjamin Xornam Glover

A Lebanese business man was on Wednesday morning gunned down by four suspected robbers after he had completed a banking transaction and was returning to his office.

The deceased Ahmed Safiadeen, aged 54, who is a cashier of Delta Agro Company, had gone to withdraw an amount of GH¢200,000 from a bank at the Tema Industrial Area which was meant for salaries of workers and other factory expenses of the company.

The incident occurred at about 10.00am when the four suspected robbers accosted and shot the deceased, and bolted in a four wheeled vehicle.

The daylight robbery comes barely 24 hours after a similar incident at the North Industrial Area in Accra on Tuesday morning.

Trail

The suspects, according to eyewitnesses, allegedly trailed the deceased after the bank transaction and on catching up with him near the Delta Agro office, shot and killed him after which they bolted with the money.

The Public Relations Officer of the Tema Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police, (ASP), Mr Joseph Benefo Darkwah who confirmed the incident to Graphic Online said the police got information of the incident and moved to the crime scene.

According to him, initial investigations has revealed that, the victim after the bank transaction was on his way to the office in his Toyota Corolla Saloon car with registration number GN 1174-12, when he was suddenly accosted by four armed men.

Gun shots

Mr Darkwah said the robbers fired several gunshots into his vehicle and robbed him off the money he had withdrawn and sped off in a four-wheel drive.

He said the deceased was immediately rushed to the Rapha Medical Centre in Tema but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, the body of the deceased has been transferred to the 37 Military Hospital for preservation and autopsy.

Mr Darkwah said the Police have launched a manhunt for the suspects.

via : https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/lebanese-business-man-shot-dead-by-gunmen-in-tema.html