Asogli Power, Ghana-Chinese Chamber of Commerce support flood victims (Daily Graphic, Tuesday, December 12, 2023. Page 23 )

 

The Ghana-Chinese Enterprise Chamber of Commerce and Sunon Asogli Power have donated relief items to victims of the recent floods in the lower Volta dam basin.

The support from the two firms to the flood victims in North, South and Central Tongu Districts, Anloga, Ketu South, as well as the Keta Municipality, was to alleviate their plight.

The Ghana-Chinese Chamber of Commerce donated GH¢ 500,000 and some relief items, while the China Jianxi International Economic and Technical Cooperation Limited also donated GH¢ 50,000 to support the affected communities.

The items included 160 pieces of student mattresses, 90 bags of 25-kilogramme rice, 160 pieces of pillows, 20 boxes of cooking oil and six boxes of stationery.

A presentation ceremony took place at Sogakope to hand over the items to the beneficiaries.

Present at the event were the Economic and Commercial Counsellor, Chinese Embassy, Li Yaohong, the MP for the South Tongu Constituency, K. Mensah Woyome; the MP for the Central Tongu Constituency,  Hottordze Alexander Roosevelt, and the MP for the Keta Constituency, Kwame Dzudzorli Gakpe.

Crisis

The President of the Ghana-Chinese Enterprise Chamber of Commerce, Yan Qun, who is also the Chairman of the Sunon Asogli Power, speaking at a ceremony to hand over the items yesterday, said in times of crisis, people needed to come together as a community, not only to offer their sympathies but also to provide tangible support to those affected.

He said the Ghana-Chinese Enterprise Chamber of Commerce was taking proactive steps to assist flood victims, particularly children and to contribute to the ongoing relief efforts."It is sad to witness that children of these communities could not go to school when the disaster occurred and were also prone to several diseases accompanied by the flood.

“It is our fervent hope that this donation would be channelled to the support of the education of the children in the affected communities," he said. 

Mutual friends

The Agbogbomefia of the Asogli State and a Director of the Sunon Asogli Power, Togbe Afede XIV, commended the Ghana-Chinese Enterprise Chamber of Commerce for rallying support for the victims.

He said China had been a friend of Ghana since independence and had been involved in various aspects of Ghana's development.

He noted that although the flood water had receded, the consequences still lingered on, including the loss of businesses, agricultural lands, negative impact on school and academic work, displacement, among others.  

The MP for the Ketu South Constituency, as well as the Public Relations Officer of the Tongu Chiefs Union, Abla Dzifa Gomashie and Togbe Ayensu Kokotako II respectively, expressed appreciation to the chamber for the gesture.

Tour

Earlier, members of the Ghana-Chinese Enterprise Chamber of Commerce and officials of the Sunon Asogli Power toured the Richard Novati Catholic Hospital and the Camboni Technical Institute in Sogakope, which were both impacted by the floods.

At the Richard Novati Catholic Hospital, the Medical Director, Dr Aaron Nii Tettey Oku, said although the facility started partial operations on December 1, 2023, some equipment had been damaged.

He said technicians were assessing the extent of damage, while the Catholic Relief Services had also made some funds available for the renovation of some residential facilities for staff. 

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-news-asogli-power-ghana-chinese-chamber-of-commerce-support-flood-victims.html

Tema Bethel Methodist Church marks golden jubilee (Daily Graphic, Monday, December 11, 2023 Page 69)

 

The Methodist Church Ghana, Bethel Society, has celebrated its golden jubilee with a call on its members to continue its quest of raising disciples for the Lord. 

The Bishop of the Tema Diocese of the Methodist Church, Ghana, Rt Rev. Samuel Ofori-Akyea, who made the call at the 50th anniversary thanksgiving service yesterday, said as part of the strategic growth plan, the church intended to increase its membership not just in numbers but also in substance and urged congregants in the Tema Diocese to play a critical role in the evangelism drive.

Members of the church, adorned in their anniversary cloth, sang songs of praise to God and made merry for all He had done for them in the past 50 years.

The theme for the anniversary was: "Bethel at 50, moving forward for Divine transformation and growth".

History

From a humble beginning under a shed at Community 8, Tema, Bethel Society nurtured by the St Paul Methodist Church, Community One, has over the years contributed immensely to the spiritual growth, social and economic empowerment of the people in its catchment area and beyond.

Rt Rev. Ofori-Akyea in an interview called on Parliament to speed up the passage of the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill into law.

The Bishop said irrespective of the subtle influence coming from some foreign partners and threats to withhold funding, among other things, the practice of LGBTQI+ was something that was frowned on by the cultural practices, as well as religious beliefs in Ghana; hence, it must not be allowed to fester.

He, therefore, encouraged Parliament to fast-track the process of passing the bill into law. 

Youth

Rt Rev. Ofori-Akyea also bemoaned the gambling and betting addiction among the youth which he said had severe consequences for younger individuals.

He urged parents to instil in their children a sense of discipline worthy of emulation and also advise their children on the risks of gambling, betting and cyber fraud, among others.

The Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana, Most Rev. Dr Paul K. Boafo, in a goodwill message read on his behalf by the General Director for Ministries, Very Rev. Dr William Mpere-Gyekye, urged the youth and children of the society to learn of the faith and commitment of the elderly in the activities and history of the church.

He also called on the leadership of the church at all levels to take time to teach the young to uphold the cherished traditions of the church. 

Social, spiritual impact

The Superintendent Minister of the Tema North Circuit of the Methodist Church Ghana, Very Rev. Emmanuel Ohene-Gyimah, said the church had used its evangelical drive to transform lives and elevated human standards among its members and the communities, leading to the establishment of other Methodist societies at other places.

The Chairman of the Anniversary Planning Committee, Jonathan E. Inkoom, said having chalked up successes over the years, the church deemed it expedient to celebrate its golden jubilee with a year-long programme, which started in February this year, with many activities.

Mr Inkoom said the legacy project for the celebration was the acquisition of a new bus to aid the spiritual, economic and social work of the church. 

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-news-tema-bethel-methodist-church-marks-golden-jubilee.html

 

 

Tema Methodist SHS celebrates 40th anniversary, calls for support (Daily Graphic, Wednesday, December 6, 2023 Page 28)

 

Management of the Tema Methodist Day Senior High School (MEDASS) in the Greater Accra Region has appealed to the government to address the infrastructure needs of the school.

The Headmistress of MEDASS, Juliana Nancy Frimpong, who appealed during the school's 40th anniversary, emphasised the urgent need for steps to be taken to address the infrastructure deficit confronting the institution.

The school currently has a student population of 1,400.

However, inadequate infrastructure has made the delivery of teaching and learning increasingly difficult, leaving both teachers and students to contend with numerous hardships.

She noted that the absence of an assembly hall and a bigger canteen forced students to eat their meals under trees, leaving them vulnerable to the elements and compromising their learning experience.

The headmistress lamented the stalling of some projects including a 20-unit classroom project by the Methodist University Ghana, a three-unit classroom block under construction by the Tema Metropolitan Assembly, the construction of a 14-seater washroom facility in the school, which was being funded by the African Development Bank, the construction of the school gate and a wall at the back of the school to prevent intruders from entering the compound, as well as a six-unit GETFund classroom block and called for their rapid completion.

She indicated that a refurbished ICT laboratory was awaiting the supply of computers from the Ghana Education Service (GES), adding that the school also lacked a functional bus and pick-up to transport students and administrative staff.  

The guest speaker at the event, who is also a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, University of Cape Coast, Dr Alberta Bondzie-Simpson, noted that the infrastructural conditions of schools directly impacted the performance of students.

“A calm, spacious, well lit and visually appealing campus with useful and well-maintained facilities such as classrooms, labs, well-stocked libraries, cafeterias or canteens, sports and social amenities, washrooms, administrative offices, storage and multi-purpose spaces and teachers’ lounges go a long way to improve the physical and psychological well-being of both staff and students,” he said.

Dr Bondzie-Simpson, an old student of MEDASS, said private-public partnerships could also be exploited by galvanising support from private businesses that might have an interest in educational development through their corporate social responsibility platforms.

Intervention

The President of the MEDASS Old Students Association, John Asseph, said the former students, realising the infrastructure deficit, had rolled out a fundraising programme to build a GHS25 million multi-storey project, including an assembly hall, a canteen, classroom and offices to improve the school's infrastructure needs.

The architectural design of the new MEDASS, which was unveiled, was scheduled to be completed in 10 years when the school celebrates its golden jubilee.

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/education/ghana-news-tema-methodist-shs-celebrates-40th-anniversary-calls-for-support.html

Former parliamentary aspirant for Sege quits NPP after losing primary (Daily Graphic, Wednesday, December 6, 2023 Page 19)

A member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Sege Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, Eunice Lasi, has announced her resignation after losing the party’s primary last Saturday.

Ms Eunice Lasi, an aspirant in the just concluded parliamentary primary of the party, announced her resignation on Monday, December 4, 2023, in a letter addressed to the General Secretary of the NPP.

She polled 170 votes against 293 secured by the winner, Dodzi Korku Numekevor, in last Saturday’s December 2, 2023 election.

Barely 72 hours after that election, she announced her resignation from the NPP, citing alleged bias against her.

“It is with good intentions that I wanted to serve my beloved party and my constituency but I have had lots of setbacks which I would no longer want to endure.

I have not been treated fairly ever since I decided to contest in the Sege Constituency on the party’s ticket and as a matter of principle, I humbly request you to accept my resignation as a member of the party,” she said,

She further indicated in the resignation letter which was copied to the Greater Accra Regional Secretary of the NPP that in the run-up to the 2023 parliamentary race, she received an indefinite suspension letter from the constituency executives, stating various reasons

Recall

It would be recalled that in July this year, the NPP in the Sege Constituency suspended Ms Lasi indefinitely for misconduct.A statement signed by the Constituency Chairman, Augustus A. Adjaottor, indicated that the decision to suspend Ms Lasi was a result of her consistent “insulting outburst on social media, specifically shared on various WhatsApp platforms in the constituency” which has caused “internal apathy among the party base.”

She referenced that in her resignation letter and said she sensed it was another scheme to get her out of the race but said she persevered and fought ahead.

Ms Lasi further stated that some constituency executives on the day of the election influenced the process with money and alleged threats and she believed the ill-treatment meted out to her by the leadership of the party in the constituency did not pave the way for a level playing ground in deciding who emerges the party’s parliamentary candidate for the Sege Constituency, hence her decision to quit the party.

via:  https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/ghana-news-former-parliamentary-aspirant-for-sege-quits-npp-after-losing-primary.html

APC announces road map for internal elections (Daily Graphic, Wednesday, December 6, 2023 Page 18)

 

The All People’s Congress (APC) has released the timetable for the internal elections to prepare the party for the upcoming general election.

The founder and leader of the APC, Hassan Ayariga, speaking at a press conference in Accra, said the timelines for the party's internal elections ahead of the 2024 general election have started with the party organising elections at the various polling stations across Ghana.

This process, Mr Ayariga said, would end by December 30, 2023. 

He said the APC has fixed January 8 to 13, 2024 to complete all constituency executive elections, adding that regional elections would be held on the between January 26 and 27, 2024 to be followed by a National delegates congress which has been slated for February 10, 2024.

“Currently, parliamentary candidate primaries are going on in the various constituencies across Ghana and the party is using this press conference to urge all aspirants to continue with their good work and support for the party,” he said. 

Mr Ayariga also urged all parliamentary aspirants who intended to contest on the ticket of APC to visit the party headquarters and pick up their forms.
 

Economic woes 

Touching on the economy, the founder and leader of the APC said Ghana was bleeding and the next generation has nothing to hang on.

He further indicated that Ghanaians have lost hope in those who wield political power in the country.

“Our youth are crying for jobs and opportunities to build their future.

Sadly those in power have no clue about good governance and leadership,” he said.

 Mr Ayariga indicated that the economic situation was worsening by the hour and transferring poverty to the younger generation partly due to lack of jobs and opportunities. Our future leaders are now gamblers and resorting to betting, a situation he said was dear to his heart. 

“Unfortunately, the two major political parties are proposing tax incentives to lure our children and grandchildren into playing lotto, instead of providing jobs, opportunities, support and assistance to help them combat this dangerous addiction.They are rather encouraging them with flimsy tax promises,” he said. 

He said both the NPP and NDC politicians have sinned against this nation, adding that the country’s debt stock was now GH¢ 600 billion, representing 75 per cent of GDP with nothing to show for the borrowing.

Mr Ayariga said inflation was almost 48 per cent and Ghana has been downgraded to CCC+ by Standard and & Poor's which means the country cannot afford to even pay interest on borrowing. “Ghana is not credible enough to borrow.”

 He identified corruption as one of Ghana’s biggest problems, adding that mismanagement and wastage of government resources was on the rise leading to wrong decision-making and failure. 

“The battle against corruption and poor economic performance cannot be won until there is a radical public service reform especially in Local Government. A strong Government Machinery is very essential in state building.”

“Interestingly these same leaders that have brought us this far have presented themselves again to be voted in 2024 as our leaders.We cannot demand better leadership and change when we don’t make that choice of change we need.The APC and Hassan Ayariga is your HOPE for 2024 and beyond,” he said.

He disclosed that the APC would in February next year hold a lecture on the theme: “I am not here to blame anyone” to offer alternative economic solutions to the ailing economy and the way forward for the nation.

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/ghana-news-apc-announces-road-map-for-internal-elections.html

Empower girls in ICT to bridge digital divide(Junior Graphic, Wednesday, December 6, 2023 Page 4)

Judges entreated to ensure safety of journalists Daily Graphic, Tuesday, December 5, 2023 Page

Judges play an essential role in ensuring the safety of journalists, the Director of UNESCO Accra Office, Edmond Moukala, has said.

He said by bringing perpetrators of attacks against media practitioners to book, they created a safe environment for journalists to practise their trade without fear or favour.

It also ensured that international laws were respected in national decisions involving freedom of expression and the safety of journalists, Mr Moukala added.

The director was speaking at a three-day workshop for judges on freedom of expression, Artificial Intelligence and the rule of law in Tema, Greater Accra Region, yesterday.

The workshop was organised by UNESCO, a specialised agency of the UN that promotes international collaboration in education, science and culture, in partnership with the Judicial Training Institute of Ghana.

In attendance are 30 justices from Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone, who are exploring international standards on press freedom in a democratic society as interpreted by international organs such as the UN Human Rights Committee and the African Commission/Court on Human and People’s Rights. 
 

Freedom of expression 

The director further said that issues of freedom of expression and the safety of journalists were significant and demanded the attention of duty bearers, arbitration authorities and security services.

He, however, said judicial systems worldwide were confronted with constantly changing communications environment, hence the judiciary must navigate between intersecting rights to privacy and the right to access to information.

Mr Moukala also said UNESCO had a global mandate to “protect the free flow of ideas by word and image”, adding that it was in that context his outfit was working to advance those fundamental freedoms by building the capacity of members of the judiciary to prevent indiscriminate actions against freedom of expression.
 

Yellow journalism

The Director of the Judicial Training Institute, Justice Omoro Tanko Amadu, said while the media continued to play pivotal roles in national development, the growing practice of yellow journalism was frustrating the process.

“I have observed very distasteful, inciteful, hateful and defamatory commentary and reportage churned out by some journalists or media houses targeted at private individuals, public persons and the institutions they head.

“All these incidents make a sad story of the risk and dangers we are subjecting our beloved democracy to.

“Attacks and threats on journalists and the media are, however, never an option and must, therefore, not be encouraged to rear their ugly head nor prevail,” he said.

The director urged all persons who were affected by bad journalism to seek redress through appropriate state organs and the formal court system.

In the recent 2023 Annual Global Press Freedom Assessment report, Ghana dropped to the 62nd position, down from its previous 2022 ranking of 60th position.
 

Collaboration 

The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, said his outfit would continue to engage prosecutors to be firm and resolute in proffering right charges against attackers of journalists and media houses.

“This is because the public is of the view that very often, the kind of charges preferred against such persons are weak, leaving the bench with no option than to give out sanctions that are not deterrent enough.” he said

The minister urged the participants to strike a balance between protecting individual rights and addressing the potential risk and harms associated with Artificial Intelligence technology and use

 

via:  https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-news-judges-entreated-to-ensure-safety-of-journalists.html

APC lays claim to 24-hour economy policy (Daily Graphic, Tuesday, December 5, 2023 Page 19)

The All People’s Congress (APC) has laid claim to the 24-hour economy policy stressing that the party has since 2020 outlined that vision to help save the economy and bring Ghana to prosperity. 

The founder and leader of the APC, Hassan Ayariga, speaking at a press conference in Accra clarified that the 24-hour economy and production policy was crafted by his party under which companies, businesses and workers would ran a three-shift system for people to work eight hours daily.

The press conference came at the back of a recent debate among political parties, especially the NDC and NPP on the practicality of the policy.

Mr Ayariga also explained that the 24-hour production policy was designed to put Ghana’s workforce into three groups called the three-shift system, where every Ghanaian would work eight hours daily.

He said the shift would start from 6 a.m to 2p.m, with the second shift beginning work from 2 p.m to 10p.m. and the third continuing from 10p.m to 6a.m, making it a 24-hour cycle.

Productivity

Mr Ayariga said the policy was to increase productivity and create jobs through production, manufacturing, construction, services and industrialisation, as well as have a vibrant economy during the day and night.

"African nations including Ghana sleep 16 hours and work eight hours.

 A nation that sleeps more than it works cannot be economically independent and achieve economic development and growth," he said.

Mr Ayariga noted that Ghana was not producing enough due to inadequate manufacturing jobs.

Consequently, 80 per cent of Ghanaian youth were unemployed. 

"Ghana imports practically everything including food to consume.Our country is a dependent nation and in serious crisis, the reason behind my 24-hour economy proposal in the APC's 2020 manifesto." he said. 

He explained that the main aim was to increase productivity, create jobs through production, manufacturing, construction, services, industrialisation as well as have a vibrant economy during the day and night. 

Flexibility

Mr Ayariga said the policy would allow flexibility of working hours, reduce corruption and stop the delays in government businesses.He said businesses, workers and companies would operate fully, saying “not a situation of putting up two people to run night shift by some institutions as claimed by people on the other side as 24-hour economy policy”.

He maintained that restaurants, transport services, security and law enforcement agencies and hospitals would all ran full capacity under the policy.

He said while there might be potential challenges implementing the policy such as safety concerns, infrastructure challenges, legal and regulatory issues, these could be addressed through proper planning, consultation and preparation. 

 

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/ghana-news-apc-lays-claim-to-24-hour-economy-policy.html

 

 

 

PNC joins calls to suspend reopening date of schools(Daily Graphic, Tuesday, December 5, 2023 Page 18)

 

The Peoples National Convention (PNC) has expressed concern over what it describes as the untimely and rushed approach adopted by the Ghana Education Service (GES), pressuring first-year students and their parents to quickly report to school merely three days after releasing school placements. 

The party said it was unfortunate that a number of students had found themselves placed outside their regions or vicinities with no prior consultation or input from them.

In a statement signed by the General Secretary of the PNC, Janet Nabla, she said parents have had to grapple with the mammoth task of finding the necessary financial resources to cater to the associated responsibilities.

“It is undeniable that such an abrupt and unreasonable expectation puts undue strain on families,” She said

The statement said the PNC firmly believed that the Ghana Education Service should give due attention to the voice of the Speaker of Parliament, as they were the representatives of the people.

The statement joined in urging the Ghana Education Service to consider postponing the reporting deadline to January 3, 2024

She said the extension would offer both parents and students sufficient time to adequately prepare for the upcoming academic year, thereby alleviating the stress and anxiety caused by the current situation.

Ms Nabla further urged the GES to prioritise the well-being and academic success of students and make a concerted effort to address the concerns raised.“This will ensure that the education system remains inclusive, fair and accessible to all Ghanaian children without leaving others behind,” the statement said 

The PNC further indicated that the future of Ghana’s educational system depended on collaborative efforts between the GES, parents and students, without allowing any party to become too powerful and abuse the others.

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/ghana-news-pnc-joins-calls-to-suspend-reopening-date-of-schools.html

Sarkodie and friends rock ‘This is Tema Festival’ (Showbiz, Monday, December 4, 2023)

 AWARD winning Ghanaian rapper, Sarkodie delivered back to back performances on the dawn of Sunday, December 3 at the second edition of ‘This is Tema' Festival held at the Chemu Park in Community Seven, Tema.

From 2:40 am to 4:10 am when he announced his presence on the giant stage, the rapper backed by a live band thrilled his fans with hits from his repertoire, a performance that saw the audience singing along with him all the way.

‘This is Tema' Festival was initiated in 2019 by Sarkodie who was born and bred in Community 9, Tema to show appreciation to his home base fans.

 As Sarkodie later explained on stage, the festival was put on hold due to COVID -19 and other engagements but he indicated his intention to sustain the festival which this year, started from Saturday evening all the way into Sunday dawn when Obidi as Sarkodie is sometimes known, wrapped up with his song ‘Country Side’ which features Black Sherif.

The Chemu Park was packed with loads of people from Tema, Ashaiman, Nungua and other communities who came to watch Sarkodie and a host of other artistes who came to support the festival.

Sarkodie shared the stage with acts including Eyfa, EL, Paedae, HipHop musician, Medikal, 'Effiakuma Love’ crooner, Kofi Kinaata, Donzy, Kumasi-based Kofi Jamar, and Kweku Flick to add pizzazz to the festival.

Others were ever exciting Pappy Kojo, Yaw Tog, Maya Blu, Asakaa Boys, Darkovibes, Hip Hop and Afrobeats artiste Kofi Mole, Kwame Yogot of ‘Biibi Besi’ fame, Dope Nation, Quamina MP, among many others who offered patrons a thrilling experience.

There is no doubt revelers had a great time dancing and singing along to their favourite songs. The food and drink vendors were a welcome addition to the festival.

Preceding the festival, Sarkodie who started his craft in Tema, accompanied by his wife Tracy staged a health walk and hosted a football gala to keep touch with his boyhood neighbourhood that birthed his career

 

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/entertainment/showbiz-news/sarkodie-and-friends-rock-this-is-tema-festival.html

Sarkodie leads health walk In Tema. Billed to entertain fans in This Is Tema Music Festival (Showbiz, Friday, December1, 2023)

 

Award winning Ghanaian rapper, Sarkodie on led his fans in and around Tema in a health walk dubbed Sarkathon today.

The event which is a prelude to the Tema born artiste's free musical show 'This is Tema' Festival saw many people, especially the youth, walking through the various communities in the Tema Metropolis.

Sarkodie started his craft in Tema and to keep touch with his boyhood neighbourhood that birthed his career, he started the festival to give back to the society.

The return of This Is Tema festival, slated for the Chemu Park in Community 7 would feature both up and coming artistes and some A listed musicians on Saturday, December 2, 2023.

The venue for the event has been prepped up with the mounting of a huge stage with accompanying logistics such as state of the art lightening and public address systems.

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/entertainment/showbiz-news/sarkodie-leads-helath-walk-in-tema-billed-to-entertain-fans-in-this-is-tema-music-festival.html

KOPIA Ghana Centre opens agric machinery centre for rice production (Daily Graphic, Thursday, November 30, 2023)

 

Free health screening goes to Afienya (Daily Graphic, Wednesday, November 29, 2023 Page 37)

 Some residents of Afienya and its environs in the Greater Accra Region have taken part in a free health screening exercise.

The screening which was organised by a pharmaceutical retailer, Top Up Pharmacy, last Monday saw the participants being screened for various ailments such as blood pressure, cholesterol, typhoid, blood sugar, Hepatitis B, as well as Body Mass Index (BMI).

Health experts were on hand to answer questions from the participants about their health to help them to improve their overall well-being.

There were a variety of educational resources available to help people learn more about healthy living and preventive care.

The Head of Sales and Marketing of Top Up Pharmacy, Dr Isaac Buabeng Nyantakyi, explained that November had been designated as diabetes awareness month and his organisation thought it necessary to bring attention to diabetes and its impact on the population.He said the health screening was the company’s way of giving back to the community and helping people take control of their health, saying people in the community who suffered serious ailments would be referred to see a doctor.

Avoid self-medication

Dr Nyantakyi, who is also a pharmacist, advised the public to avoid buying medications from drug peddlers in markets.  

He said antibiotic self-medication had been found to contribute to the phenomenon of resistance and associated risk of failure to cure communicable diseases and advised the citizenry to avoid self-medication, overuse and misuse of medication to help control the rising rates of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-news-free-health-screening-goes-to-afienya.html

 

 

Professionals mentor learners at Ashaiman (Junior Graphic, Wednesday, November 29, 2023 Page 4)

 

Overflowing stream banks flood Dawhenya - Residents displaced(Daily Graphic, Wednesday, November 29, 2023 Page 29)

 Some residents living in the Lalluekpo Electoral Area near Dawhenya in the Ningo-Prampram District of the Greater Accra Region have been displaced after a stream overflowed its banks and inundated their community.
 
Most of the residents, who reside in the lowland areas of the community, woke up to the sight of water on their premises on Monday morning.
The stream, which flows from the mountains upstream and feeds the Dawhenya Irrigation Dam was said to have overflowed its banks in the early hours of Monday and caused severe flooding.

During a visit to some parts of the flooded community on Tuesday, the Daily Graphic observed there was widespread flooding in the community.

The water, which residents said had shown signs of receding, had submerged a number of houses and kept extending towards dry land in the area.
A resident in the community, Charles Nartey, said some residents fled their homes due to the flooding as the water kept increasing and entering their rooms.

He said they noticed the increasing levels of water in their community around 4 a.m. last Monday and some residents had to evacuate their houses immediately.

He added that some of the affected residents, whose houses got flooded, had to move out to nearby communities such as Prampram, Miotso, Tema and Ashaiman to seek refuge.

Displaced persons

Richard Mohammed, the assembly member for Lalluekpo Electoral Area, one of the affected areas, said over 200 houses had been affected adding that they could no longer sleep in their homes.

He said some of the affected people have had their property destroyed while others had been displaced.

 

via:  https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-news-overflowing-stream-banks-flood-dawhenya-residents-displaced.html

Court dismisses contempt application against EC Chair, 2 deputies - But applicant files appeal (Daily Graphic, Monday, November 27, 2023 Page 19)

 The High Court in Tema has dismissed an application brought against the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission (EC), Jean Mensa, and her two deputies for contempt of court over the limited voter registration exercise. 

The applicant, Precious Ayitah, had prayed the High Court to commit Mrs Mensa, Dr Eric Bossman Asare and Samuel Tettey for contempt of court for going ahead with the limited registration exercise in the district offices of the EC despite an injunction application she filed that sought to put the exercise on hold.

Ruling

The court, presided over by Justice Patricia Quansah, last Friday dismissed the contempt application against the respondents on grounds that it was without basis and awarded a nominal cost of GH¢2,000 against the applicant.

The judge in announcing the decision said the applicant was unable to establish a case against the respondents and also unable to prove that the respondents were personally served with the order of the court.

The allegation that the application was served on one Daniel Addae Nyamekye, designated as a Legal Secretary at the Head office of the EC could not also be proved.

The court said the EC argued that there was no such position as Legal Secretary and no such person known as Daniel Addai Nyamekye is in the employment of the EC.

The court agreed with the EC and held that if there was any doubt it ought to go in favour of the respondents, and that the applicant had failed to prove that the three commissioners were duly served, thus the application was without basis.

The court indicated that the evidence adduced by the applicant was not strong enough to enable the court to commit the respondents to contempt.

Appeal

Meanwhile the applicant, who was dissatisfied with the ruling of the High Court, filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal to overturn the ruling.

The Lawyer for the applicant, Nii Kpakpo Samoa Addo, told the Daily Graphic that the appeal was filed last Friday.

Background

In her contempt suit against the EC Chairperson and her deputies, Ms Ayitah, a resident of Otsebleku, near Afienya in the Greater Accra Region, which is about 44.3 kilometres from the district office of the EC in Prampram, said the originating motion on notice and interlocutory injunction was served on the respondents on September 8, 2023, to restrain them from going ahead with the limited registration exercise in the district offices of the EC.She argued that the respondents disregarded the said injunction application and proceeded with the limited registration exercise in the district offices of the EC.

Ms Ayitah, in her affidavit in support of the application, said the respondent’s intention to proceed with the limited registration exercise at the district offices jeopardised the outcome of the initial interlocutory injunction application and the substantive suit that was brought to the court, hence contemptuous of the court.

 

via :  https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/ghana-news-court-dismisses-contempt-application-against-ec-chair-2-deputies-but-applicant-files-appeal.html

 

Ashaiman Constituency: Bustling town, home of migrants (Daily Graphic, Friday, November 24, 2023 Pages 24/25)

It is one of the bustling municipalities in the Greater Accra Region.

Life goes on 24 hours without a blink of the eye by most of the residents.

 

The market, car parks/lorry stations, entertainment joints and homes are usually a beehive of activity.

Due to the influx of people from the West African sub-region, many refer to the community as the “United States of West Africa”.

The Ashaiman municipality was carved out of the Tema Municipality (now Tema Metropolitan Authority - TMA), as one of the newly created districts in 2008 by LI 1889 and Local Government Act of 1993 (Act 462).

It is one of the 34 assemblies in the Greater Accra Region.  

It was weaned from the TMA during the tenure of former President John Agyekum Kufuor with the view to bring governance to the doorsteps of the people and accelerate development in the area.

The Municipality shares boundaries with the TMA to the east, Ledzokuku Municipal Assembly to the south, Adentan Municipal Assembly to the north and La Nkwantanang Madina Municipality to the west.

The 2021 Population and Housing Census put the population of the area at 208,060, comprising 103,410 males and 104,650 females.
 

Migrants

Traditionally, Ashaiman falls under the Tema Traditional Council.

But from its small beginnings, the constituency has increasingly become the haven of a large number of migrants from all over the country and some West African countries.

The constituency has expanded, giving birth to many suburbs which bear both local and foreign names.

 Localities like Tulaku, Market Square, Fitter Line, Taabo Line, Tsinai Agbe, Zongo Laka, Roman Down, Night Market, Asensu Bar, Official Town, Taifa, Newtown, Valco Flats, Afariwaa, Christian Village and Atadeka are spiced up with exotic flavours such as Middle East, Jericho, Lebanon Zone 1 to 5, New York and Washington, among others.

Political dynamics

With the exception of the 2000 parliamentary elections when the New Patriotic Party (NPP) candidate, Emmanuel Kinsford Kwesi Teye, won the seat, Ashaiman has been a National Democratic Congress (NDC) stronghold.

Albert Boakye Okyere — MCE for Ashaiman

But for infighting in 2000, the NDC would have won the seat as has been the norm since the creation of the constituency in 1992.

Pundits believe the internal wrangling prior to the elections gave the NPP an easy passage, but that view has been rejected by the NPP supporters in the constituency on the grounds that the presidential election in the same year favoured the NPP candidate, John Agyekum Kufuor, who polled 28,393, representing 58.20 per cent, as against NDC’s John

Evans Atta Mills, who polled 17,603, representing 36.08 per cent.

To prove their case, the NDC reclaimed the seat in 2004 when Alfred Kwame Agbesi returned to the fold to win the seat with 53,559 votes after beating Emmanuel Kinsford Kwesi Teye of the NPP who secured 36,044.

Since then, the NDC has repeatedly retained the seat.

The current Member of Parliament (MP) for Ashiaman is Ernest Henry Norgbey of the NDC, who won the seat in the 2016 general election and went ahead to retain it in 2020.

In the 2020 election, Mr Norgbey polled 73,316 votes, representing 61.59 per cent votes, to maintain the seat for the NDC, while Labaran Yakubu Barry of the NPP, his closest contender, secured 45,730 votes, representing 38.41 per cent.

For the presidential election, former President John Mahama of the NDC secured 76,327 votes, representing 64.17 per cent, while President Nana Akufo-Addo polled 41,506, representing 34.89 per cent.

Mr Norgbey was retained by delegates of the NDC in the party’s parliamentary primaries held in May 13 this year as the NDC parliamentary candidate for election 2024.

Ernest Henry Norgbey — MP for Ashaiman

However, his third term bid to represent the people of Ashaiman in Parliament will be determined after the December 2024 parliamentary election as the constituency awaits the winner of the NPP parliamentary primaries in constituencies where the party has no sitting MPs on December 2, 2023.

The three contestants who have been approved for the NPP primaries are: Essel Justice King, Thomas Abotibala Adongo and Alhaji Labaran Yakubu Barry, who was the NPP parliamentary candidate for the 2020 election.  

 Like any inner city in Ghana, Ashaiman is one of the economically viable and vibrant communities but with some negatives.

A first-time visitor to the town will notice a plethora of banks, non-banking institutions, as well as other businesses scrambling for any available space to either set up new businesses or open new branches.

However, Ashaiman has over the years been perceived as the citadel of all sorts of crime.

Filth and bad roads have also engulfed the area in recent times.

Roads

One major concern of the people of Ashaiman is bad roads.

The poor state of the road near the Mandela Park intersection after a rainfall

Ashaiman, it is estimated, has a total of 166 kilometres network of roads, with only 28 km representing 17 per cent paved, leaving the remaining 137 km, representing 83 per cent, unpaved.

A civil servant, Richard Avorgbedor, told the Daily Graphic that the roads connecting major suburbs in Ashaiman were so deplorable and that various assurances by the government to fix them had failed to materialise.

He said inner roads such as the Ashaiman Traffic Light to the Presby Junction section of the Ashaiman-Adjei Kojo Road, Ashaiman Main Market to the Lebanon section of the Ashaiman overhead to the Zenu Road, Ashaiman Newtown junction to the Afariwa junction road, and the Community 22 and Lebanon inner roads were among the road networks in a deplorable state.

Demonstration

Moved by the poor road network, a group calling itself Concerned Citizens of Ashaiman embarked on a demonstration on October 3, 2023, to protest against the deplorable nature of roads within the municipality.

The Assembly member for the Naa Amerley Electoral Area, Ayiku Kubutey, bemoaned the poor state of the roads, adding that in spite of numerous promises by the government, the situation remained unchanged, thus having a negative impact on economic activities in the municipality.

The MP for Ashaiman, Ernest Henry Norgbey, in an interview, said the government had ignored the pleas of the people of Ashaiman for long, adding that the demonstration was to serve as a signal to the government that the request of the people could no longer be ignored.

Response

The Municipal Chief Executive, Albert Boakye Okyere, in an interview with the Daily Graphic, gave the assurance of the government’s commitment to reconstruct roads in the municipality.

He said the government had already taken steps to improve the roads by awarding a 10 km drainage contract which was ongoing, adding that once the drains were constructed, the roads would be fixed.

“Roads in the area cannot be completed under one administration. Government is a continuum; we have done some and we are hoping to do more for the people of Ashaiman,” he said.
 

Education/ Health

The constituency is a beneficiary of the E-Block initiative instituted by the NDC government to enhance access to secondary education.

The school was to complement the existing Ashaiman Senior High School.

Unfortunately, the project which is about 80 per cent complete, has been abandoned.

The MP for the area said in spite of efforts to get the government to have the project completed and handed over for use had been totally neglected.

Ashaiman Sewerage Treatment System

The MCE for Ashaiman said the assembly was committed to completing all projects started by previous governments, including the E-Block, adding that the assembly had constituted a team to follow up the project with the relevant agencies towards the early completion of the facility. 

In the area of health care, Mr Okyere indicated that Ashaiman had been slated to benefit from the government’s Agenda 111 hospitals to help improve health services in Ashaiman and its adjoining communities.

The 100-bed hospital being constructed under the government's flagship Agenda 111 will be constructed by three contractors at a cost of US$ 12 million.

 It is scheduled to be completed by the end of the third quarter of 2024.

He explained that although the Municipality boasts of a Polyclinic, which was recently upgraded to the status of a primary hospital to meet the health needs of the growing population of Ashaiman, some residents were compelled to travel to the Tema General Hospital and other private facilities to seek health care.

Mr Okyere commended President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and gave the assurance that the assembly would ensure the effective and efficient implementation of the project.

He also commended the Ghana Armed Forces for releasing part of its lands at Michel Camp, the base of the First Battalion of Infantry of the Ghana Army, for the project.

Mr Norgbey, for his part, welcomed the initiative aimed at improving access to healthcare facilities by the people of Ashaiman.
 

Sanitation

On sanitation, the MCE said increased population growth and rapid urbanisation had resulted in the generation of large quantities of solid waste but gave the assurance that the assembly was doing its best to address the situation.

In terms of household toilets, he said prior to his assumption of office, the number of people with access to household toilets in the Municipality stood at 1,300, but currently the figure stood at over 9,000.

Mr Okyere said the government had also constructed an ultra-modern Simplified Sewerage Facility in the Municipality, which was connected to over 25,000 low income beneficiaries in the Ashaiman New Town and TDC Quarters area, to help address the sanitation challenges.

via:  https://www.graphic.com.gh/features/opinion/ghana-news-ashaiman-constituency-bustling-town-home-of-migrants-2.html

Freight Forwarders call for increased consultations(GraphicOnline, Thursday, November 23, 2023/ Daily Graphic Mon November 27, 2023 Page 75 ))

The President of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), Edward Akrong, has called for more inclusion of freight forwarders in the country’s policy formulations. This, he explained, would lead to the development of well-advised policies that would improve trade facilitation in the country.

Speaking at a press conference in Tema on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, to highlight some critical issues affecting the freight forwarding industry, Mr Akrong said the Ghanaian freight forwarding community plays a pivotal role in the nation’s economic development in both trade facilitation and revenue generation for the country, hence, the need for them to be consulted whenever policies are to be rolled out. 

Valuation challenges 

 The GIFF president listed the valuation of goods by the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority as one of the issues facing their sector. He said although valuation had been a sore point in doing business at the ports, the situation has been further exacerbated by a recent imposition of a reference price list for the valuation of goods by the Board of the GRA. He argued that this new directive directly contradicted international trade agreements, particularly those under the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) Trade Facilitation Agreement (TEA). 

“As signatories to the WTO, Ghana is bound by principles that advocate for fair and transparent valuation,” he said, adding that the Customs Act 2015, Act 891 clearly and unequivocally states how valuation for goods should be done. 

He argued that it was illegal for the GRA to create a certain minimum value or reference price list for valuation purposes, stressing that several importers have been saddled with this imposition even though they have provided all evidence of the genuineness of their values. 

 Mr Akrong posited that all these policies added to the high cost of doing business at the ports and also had a direct effect on the cost of goods on the market and urged a reconciliation of the policy to align with international standards to foster a conducive environment for trade.

 Exemption law 

He said the recent passage of the Exemption Act, 2022, Act 1083 by Parliament also did not go through consultation with his outfit before its introduction, adding that the passage and implementation of the law have created obstacles in the clearance process, affecting not only private enterprises but also hindering the clearance of government cargoes at the Ports. 

Mr Akrong revealed that data available showed, for example, that Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and the Cocoa Marketing Board, for the last three quarters in 2023, have a total of over 900 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) on the Uncleared Cargo List mainly due to lack of exemptions. 

“The sad part is the accrual of demurrage charges to the shipping lines, which is an enormous burden on the government,” he said. GIFF, therefore, advocated for a review of the legislation to ensure that it served its intended purpose without obstructing the essential movement of goods, particularly those crucial to government operations.

 SIGMAT 

 The GIFF President listed the Interconnected System for the Management of Goods in Transit (SIGMAT), which he described as reminiscent of the Cargo Tracking Note as one of the failed policies introduced, and maintained that his outfit opposes the policy, adding that the government needed to reassess and rectify policies that may inadvertently impede the efficiency of the logistics and supply chain operations 

 He said the Government’s recent directive to importers in the cooking oil industry to use only the seaport as the point of entry has created new challenges for players in that sector, adding that the industry players, especially those along the West African sub-region, have to invest more resources in shipping their goods to Ghana’s seaports. 

Mr Akrong argued that in an environment characterised by volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity, the frequent changes in policies without consultation with key stakeholders posed significant challenges to the operations of GIFF members. 

 He, therefore, called for a collaborative approach between the government and industry stakeholders in the formulation of policies that were not only responsive to current global dynamics but also supportive of the growth and sustainability of the freight forwarding sector.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

via: 

https://www.graphic.com.gh/business/business-news/freight-forwarders-call-for-increased-consultations.html

KOICA, Volunteers mark day at Dawhenya (Daily Graphic, Saturday, November 18, 2023 Page 21)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) and other volunteers have organised an event to sensitise children at Dawhenya to sanitation and hygiene to commemorate this year’s International Volunteers Day 2023. 

The event, targeted at children in the Dawhenya Methodist Basic and Dawhenya D. A. schools, saw the volunteers, who are currently serving in Ghana, engage the children in activities on sanitation and hygiene.

They also donated hygiene items valued at $7,000 to the Dawhenya Cluster of Schools to enable them to practice good hygiene such as proper handwashing and oral health.

Other partners of the event included the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the United States Peace Corps and UN Volunteers.

World Volunteer Day

International Volunteer Day, observed annually, is a United Nations initiative designed to inspire volunteer-involving organisations and individuals to champion volunteerism.

The day is also used to encourage governments to actively support volunteer efforts and acknowledge the invaluable contributions of volunteers towards the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on local, national and international scales.

The theme for this year’s celebration, “If everyone did” was a clarion call that if everyone played their part in improving lives by responding to challenges facing the world, it would be a better place for peace and development.
 

Commitment 

The Country Director of KOICA Ghana Office, Dong Hyun Lee, emphasised the special significance of this year's commemoration for KOICA.

He highlighted the ongoing commitment of KOICA to deploy volunteers to developing countries under the World Friends Korea (WFK) Programme.

Mr Lee further underscored KOICA's belief in the pivotal role of a hygienic learning environment and healthy students as the bedrock for inclusive, high-quality education.

That, he said, prompted the collaboration with partner agencies to impart knowledge on proper oral hygiene and handwashing practices to students at the Dawhenya Cluster of Schools.

Mr Lee expressed KOICA's enduring support for Ghana's education system and commended the global community of volunteers for their outstanding efforts in addressing the development needs of countries such as Ghana. 

Importance

The acting Country Director of Peace Corps Ghana, Jo Anne Yeager, reiterated the importance of volunteerism stressing it helped create positive change in the society.

She said Ghana held a special place in the history of Peace Corp because it was the very first country to host volunteers in 1961.

She said over the past 62 years, Ghana had hosted close to 5,000 volunteers who had worked in underserved communities under agriculture, health and education with a special focus on science, technology, engineering and mathematics by providing valuable instruction to Junior High School students.
 

Behavioural Change

A Senior Representative of JICA Ghana Office, Kohei Takimoto, commended the partners for coming together to offer support for education and health for the children at Dawhenya which he expressed the hope would go a long way to change behaviours in the community.

The Partnership and Mobilisation Officer, UN Volunteers, Francis Ofosu, said the selflessness exhibited by the volunteers would leave a lasting impact on the children and urged all to embrace volunteerism in order to make a difference in their communities.

The Headteacher of Dawhenya Methodist ‘B’ Basic School, Rita Arhin, said in addition to teaching, the schools in the cluster strongly believed that health was wealth.

Hence from Kindergarten to JHS, the school authorities intentionally and diligently inculcated healthy lifestyle living to promote good health among the learners and their caregivers outside the school.

 via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-news-koica-volunteers-mark-day-at-dawhenya.html

President inaugurates 15 gantry cranes - Cuts sod for phase 2 of Tema Port Expansion (Daily Graphic, Thursday, November16, 2023 Page 16)

 President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has inaugurated a fleet of new gantry cranes and also cut the sod for the commencement of phase two of the Tema Port Expansion Project. 

 

The inauguration of the 15 additional gantry cranes and the commencement of civil works under phase two of the Tema Port Expansion Project, operated by Meridian Port Services Ltd (MPS), will add 270,000 square metres to the existing one million square metres and set in motion a transformation that will fundamentally alter Ghana's standing in the maritime industry in West Africa.

At the ceremony yesterday, President Akufo-Addo said the project would inure positively to the growth and development of the Tema Harbour.

The President recalled his visit to Tema on November 8, 2017, during a regional tour of the Greater Accra Region when the CEO of MPS presented to him a vision of what Terminal Three of the Tema Port would become and, six years on, that vision had been realised in its full glory.

President Akufo-Addo said through collaboration with international partners, Ghana had established a world-class trade infrastructure that did not only meet global standards but also signalled to investors, both local and international, that Ghana was open for business.

This achievement, the President said, was no small feat and it reflected the immense potential that the nation held.

“The substantial investments made in this vast land space and the state-of-the-art equipment we see today have tripled the port's capacity. This indicates that Ghana is poised for unprecedented trade growth. “Our strategic location, situated at the crossroads of the world, gives us a distinct advantage, offering a welcoming gateway for trade in our region and beyond,” the President said.

President Akufo-Addo said since taking office, his government had placed a high priority on the development of the agricultural sector through various initiatives, including the Planting for Food and Jobs and the Economic Enclave Project, under the Ghana CARES programme.

He said in the face of global population growth and disruptions in world food supply systems, Ghana had remained resilient due to the measures his administration had put in place. 

Potential

He was of the firm belief that Ghana had the potential to become the world's leading exporter of agricultural produce, thanks to the abundant resources, including favourable weather conditions, ample water, and fertile land.

The President, however, said what the nation lacked over the years was modernisation and the robust logistics chain required to realise that potential.

He said the MPS Terminal 3 infrastructure was a good example of a logistics platform that would drive that vision to reality.

He stated that it was not prudent for Ghana to continue importing when the country had the capability to create jobs for its vibrant youth population by supporting developments and investing in critical port infrastructure that provided the foundation for industries to create the much-needed jobs and foster the export-driven economy that the nation wanted to develop.

AfCFTA

President Akufo-Addo said the emergence of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), whose secretariat is hosted by Ghana, represented an opportunity for Africa to strengthen immeasurably intra-African trade as a powerful avenue to develop the continent’s vast economic potential.

The President expressed his optimism that, despite the challenges Ghana might be facing, the nation would once again prove its resilience as it continued to invest in vital sectors of the economy.  

The Minister of Transport, Kwaku Ofori Asiamah, said to facilitate and enhance trade, the road from the port to the Tema Motorway was receiving urgent attention.

He added that the Ministry, in collaboration with its partners, was going through the necessary legal regime and documentation.

He gave an assurance that by the first quarter of 2024, construction works on the road from Community Three to the Tema Motorway would start.
 

Economic growth 

In his welcome address, the Chief Executive Officer of MPS, Mohamed Samara, said the gantry cranes represented an additional investment of over $50 million in Ghana's maritime sector, a testament to the commitment of MPS to foster economic growth.

He added that the high-tech ship-to-shore cranes, classified as Super-Post Panamax, boasted the capability to service the world's largest vessels, featuring an impressive outreach of 66 metres and the ability to handle containers up to the 23rd row of vessels.

These cranes also offer the unique ability to stack containers over 10 units high on deck, equipped with twin-lift spreaders capable of handling loads of up to 65 tons.

The Director General of the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Michael Achagwe Luguje, said Terminal Three at the Tema Port stood as a testament to successful business partnerships between GPHA and its investment partners at MPS, and added that the impressive world-class facility was a model of what could be achieved when like-minded entities came together with a shared vision.

Present at the ceremony were the President of Africa Global Logistics, Philippe Labonne; Regional Managing Director of APM Terminals, Igor van den Essen; Chairman of the MPS Board, Dr Edmund Osei Tutu Prempeh; Director of the Port of Tema, Sandra Opoku; MCE of Tema, Yohane Amarh Ashitey, among others.

 via : https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-news-president-inaugurates-15-gantry-cranes-cuts-sod-for-phase-2-of-tema-port-expansion.html

 

ECG, JICA builds capacity of electrical engineers, technicians from selected West African countries(Graphic Online, Thursday, November 9, 2023)

 

Electrical engineers and technicians from four West African countries have started a training course at the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Training School in Tema in the Greater Accra Region with the aim of enhancing their capacities. 

 

 

The course funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) forms part of JICA's electrical engineers training for African countries project, under its technical cooperation support for Africa. 
 
24 participants were selected from the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority of Sierra Leone, Liberia Electricity Company, National Water and Electricity Company in The Gambia and Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) of Ghana.

The training programme is in two parts, namely Engineering Training and Technicians Training Courses. It will end on November 24, 2023 and December 15, 2023 respectively. 

The training for technicians would cover maintenance methods for power equipment including overhead lines and underground cables, while the course for the engineers will cover power system protection and control, distribution system planning and network design. 

Professionalism  

Opening the training session on Monday, October 30, 2023, the Deputy Managing Director of the ECG, Kwadwo Ayensu Obeng admonished the engineers and technicians to take the course seriously adding that the participants were expected to apply the lessons learnt to address the challenges with power supply and distribution in their respective countries. 
 
He said the ECG Training Centre has trained a lot of foreign nationals including personnel from our sister ECOWAS countries and others across the globe including Afghanistan. 
 
“Quite often, when we undertake training in other European or Asian countries, the case studies and challenges presented are different from what pertains in our home countries. For choosing ECG you stand to gain from examples and case studies similar to challenges in your home countries,” he said  

He commended the JICA Ghana Office and the Japanese government for their continuous support to the ECG, including helping the transform the facility into a training centre of excellence.

The Director of the ECG Training School, Godfred Mensah said the ECG Training Centre has a close partnership with JICA since 2010 and both institutions have collaborated to implement a Technical Assistance Project on Electrical Engineers Training for African countries from 2013 to 2016. 

This, he explained has contributed to enhancing the training capacity of the ECG Training Centre adding that the centre has been accredited by the National Board for Professional and Technician Examinations (NAPTEX) of Ghana and was  recognized by the West African Power Pool (WAPP) and Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) Ghana, as one of their centres of excellence used for capacity building of engineers within the West African Sub-Region.

“The centre has evolved to become the beacon for engineering training in the sub-region and provides trainings and consultancy services for other corporate institutions, serving such entities as NEDCo,VRA, GRIDCo, Bui Power Authority, as well as   electricity distribution and supply Institutions of Liberia, Sierra Leone, Gambia as well as Afghanistan.” He said adding that facility also serves other industries in the mining, oil and gas industries.

He charged the trainees to be diligent and interested in what they would be taught, to be able to manage the electricity supply system of their respective countries

Power distribution

The Chief Representative of JICA Ghana Office, Suzuku Momoko, said her organisation was committed to continuing its support for the sub-region in power production, supply and distribution systems.

She said for 60 years, JICA had cooperated with Ghana, Liberia, The Gambia and Sierra Leone, using Japanese technology to contribute to the economic and social development of the beneficiary countries.

Ms Momoko said in the energy sector, JICA strives to realise a society in which all people have stable access to affordable, clean energy and resources.

She said in Ghana, JICA has supported the reinforcement of substations in the reinforcement of power supply to Accra Central area as well sas improvement of the power distribution system in Tamale and Sunyani area through a grant aid scheme adding that in September this year, JICA has concluded a preparatory survey for a grant aid project for the construction of a new substation in Tamale.Ms Momoko said in Sierra Leone and Liberia  JICA has supported power distribution improvement in these countries and developed the capacities of engineers and technicians to formulate and implement proper operations of their power supply  systems.

Ms Momoko said JICA through the ECG Training Centre have implemented the Electrical Engineers Training for African countries project since 2016 where ECG in collaboration with Japanese expects to develop comprehensive and structured textbook and other training materials to enhance the capacity of trainees.

“We are happy to observe that even after seven years from the project completion, ECG Training Centre continuously provides training to engineers and technicians using the training materials developed by the project.” She said 

via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ecg-jica-builds-capacity-of-electrical-engineers-technicians-from-selected-west-african-countries.html