Wednesday, 27 November 2024
Monday, 25 November 2024
Saturday, 23 November 2024
Tema=Mpakadan rail line commissioned( Daily Graphic, Saturday, November 23, 2024 Page 1 & 5)
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The
flamboyant ceremony fully compensated for the agony of the April 18, 2024
test-run mishap, which temporarily threw the initial plans out of gear.
Accident
On that
fateful day, one of the newly acquired magnificent trains unexpectedly ran into
a truck which was strangely parked across the railway track during an inaugural
test-run prior to the start of its scheduled operations.
Following
investigations into the matter, the driver of the truck was found guilty of
causing damage to state property, and was, accordingly, sentenced to six
months' imprisonment.
However, the new train eventually embarked on its dream
journey yesterday, with President Akufo-Addo being one of the first passengers
to travel on the railway line.
History
‘The unveiling of the landmark railway line and the fully
air-conditioned DMUs, with a two tier comfortable seating {arrangement for first
class and economy class, and capacity of 255 passengers, marked the return of
the railway enterprise for the movernent of people and goods along the Easter
corridor of Ghana.
‘The construction of the Tema-Mpakadan Railway Line began in
2018 by Afcons infrastructure, financed through an India Export-Import Bank credit
facility at a cost of $447 million. The railway line is the first section of
the Ghana-Burkina Faso interconnectivity project. One of the highlights of the
project is a 300-metre rail bridge across the Volta River, near Senchi. Other facilities
include modem rail stations at Adome, Kpone, Doryumu -JokpanyA-Kodiabe, Shai Hills,
Afienya, Ashaiman, Tema Industrial Area, and Tema Port, as well as two railheads
at Mpakadan and Tema Harbour
Inauguration
‘Speaking at the event, President Akufo-Addo said the
project, conceived under the administration of President John A. Kufuor was a
good example of continuity in government for national development.
He said reducing the reliance on road transport for long
distance freight and passenger movement, the new railway line would address
several critical challenges that had hindered Ghana's development.
‘The President said the new line would significantly
decongest the roads, thereby alleviating the heavy burden that had led to
severe traffic congestion, the rapid deterioration of road infrastructure and
an alarming increase in road accidents
He added that it would enhance the efficiency of port
operations at Tema, minimizing vessel waiting times and container dwelling
times, thereby boosting the competitiveness of Ghana's ports.
“The integration of rail and inland water transport will
also transform trade in agriculture by lowering freight costs, Increasing the
viability of agricultural enterprises along the Volta Lake and facilitating the
seamless movement of {goods and produce to and from northern Ghana and
neighbouring landlocked countries” President Akufo-Addo saId
He described the new railway line as a transformative
intervention to address the pressing issues comprehensively, stressing that
when fully operational, the multimodal network would Link the Tema port to the north-south
transport corridor spanning some 4000 kilometres and open new opportunities for
the movement of fuel, cement, containerized cargo and agricultural produce.
“The economic and social benefits of this project are far-reaching
and transformative. By alleviating the pressure (0n our road network it will extend
the lifeline of vertical routes, including those along the eastern corridor,
while simultaneously lowering the cost of transporting bulk goods, agricultural
produce and containers, thereby enhancing business competitiveness. It will
offer a reliable and cost-effective transportation alterative for passengers in
areas currently underserved by road networks, ensuring greater accessibility
and convenience’ he said
"This project is far more than just a railway line. It
is a lifeline that will empower communities, invigorate businesses and
strengthen industries, ultimately making Ghana more resilient and prosperous,
the President, added,
Achievement
‘The Minister of Railway Development, John-Peter Amewu,
commended President Akufo-Addo for embarking on ‘the longest single rail
project completed since independence.
He indicated that other similar rail activities and
infrastructure undertaken during President Akufo-Addo's tenure from 2017
included the Western Rail Line development projects, which were being developed
in sections such as ‘the 22-kilometre sections from Kojokrom to Manso section
line, which was about 96 per cent complete, the continuation of work on the
section between the port of Takoradi and the Huni Valley, which is about 78
kilometres done.
Mr Amewu added that the government was also financing the
development of a new sixkilometre standard gauge line in Kumasi, between Adum
and Kaase, as part of the Western Line Development Project.
‘The Hohoe Member of Parliament said the government had
since 2017 been investing in the development of local capacity to maintain and
sustain the rail system for the benefit of future generations, following the
upgrade of the railway taining school in Sekondi and had since begun providing
training to over 1,000 youthful Ghanaians and other nationals from and within
the sub-region.
‘The school, he said, now awarded degrees and certificates
to successful graduates through collaborative efforts by the Ministry of
Railway Development and the Ministry of Mines and Technology in Tarkwa,
Key strategy
‘The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Railway
Development Authority, Yaw Owusu, sold one of the key strategies of the Tema-Mpakadan
project was to build an intermodal transport system to link Tema Port to the Mpakadan
Port.
That, he said, would ensure that imported goods in
containers would be loaded onto trains and transferred from ‘the trans onto
barges at the Mpakadan Port to be ferried 1o the ports in the Northam part of
Ghana and subsequently transported on train and by road to neighbouring
countries of Burkina Faso and Niger.
Mr. Owusu said traditionally, railway lines were built in
anticipation of a demographic and economic growth, and ‘therefore, invited
business communities to take advantage of the incredible and viable project by
siting businesses
India-Ghana relationship
‘The Indian High Commissioner to Ghana, Manish Gupta, said
the commissioning of the railway line was the single largest project
implemented under the government-to-government development partnership in Ghana
and ‘commended President Akufe-Addo for the realization of what he termed a
flagship project.
He said India had been a long-standing partner in Ghana's
developmental journey and his country remained steadfast in its commitment
towards the country’s economic development, adding that Indian companies had invested
nearly $2 billion, with about $1 billion in lines of credit, buyers’ credit,
during the last two decades.
He said India was among the leading trade partners and a
source of foreign direct investment in this country.
Appeal
‘The Stool Secretary of the Tema Traditional Council , Ni
Shipi Amarh Somponu Il, said the expansion of the harbour and the volume of
cargo handling had increased, hence the construction of the railway line was an
indication that Ghana was prepared to make good use of the harbour to transport
goods to its neighbouring landlocked countries.
Nii Somponu ii renewed the council’s appeal to the
government for the construction of a sea defense wall at Awudum in Tema New
Town to forestall the gradual erosion of the lands as a result of the Tema
Harbour Expansion Programme.
Writer's email benjamin glover@graphic-com.gh
Wednesday, 20 November 2024
Monday, 18 November 2024
Wednesday, 13 November 2024
Monday, 11 November 2024
Thursday, 7 November 2024
Vision FC coach warns Hearts of Oak as they clash tomorrow(Daily Graphic, Thursday, November 7, 2024 Page 43)
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Determined to secure a victory, Agyemang revealed that Vision FC would employ a new approach specifically tailored to counter Hearts of Oak, signalling a shift from their usual game plans.
Ouattara in Tema
Hearts of Oak’s Ivorian Coach, Aboubakar Ouattara, was spotted observing Vision FC's last match against Aduana FC, likely hoping to gain insights into their tactics. In response, Agyemang expressed confidence that Hearts would face a different side altogether.
"We adapt our strategy based on our opponent. So, while he watched our game, what he'll see on Friday will be entirely different," Agyemang stated, hinting at an unpredictable style that could make it difficult for Hearts to anticipate their moves.
Former Hearts players
Vision FC’s lineup includes former Hearts players like deputy coach Hamza Obeng and striker Issah Akuka Issifu, whose inside knowledge of the Phobians might give Vision FC an edge.
Despite Hearts of Oak’s recent 2-0 win over Medeama, Agyemang remains optimistic about a strong showing from his side.
Currently, Vision FC sits 11th on the league table with 11 points while Hearts of Oak are slightly ahead in 8th place with 12 points. With both teams eager for victory, tomorrow’s clash promises an exciting battle for fans at the Legon Sports Stadium.
Tuesday, 5 November 2024
TDC Ghana Ltd declares GH¢3m dividend to govt (Graphic Business, Tuesday, November5, 2024 Page 8)
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TDC Ghana Ltd has declared a total dividend of GH¢3 million to the government for the 2023 financial year.
The Chairman of the Board of the company, Kofi Brako, announced this at the Fourth Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the company
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The declaration of the dividend follows an impressive financial perfomance, which saw shareholder's fund grow by 19.9% from GH¢378.2 million in 2022 to GH¢453.47 million in 2023.
Return on equity for the same period was 12.1%, compared to 9.9% recorded in 2022.
Mr Brako said he was optimistic that the growth would continue to boost shareholder confidence in the company's performance and prospects for the future.
Urban redevelopment
He said the company's in-filling project at Tema Community 1 site Three was progressing, stressing that phase three of the project designed to provide 40 units of two-bedroom apartments was scheduled to commence soon.
Mr Brako commended the management of TDC for its outstanding performance during the year under review and for winning seven prestigious awards, including the most consistent dividend-paying state-owned enterprise for the year 2023 in the public enterprises league table, as well as the best internal Audit Unit state-owned enterprise category for the year 2023.
Strides
The Managing Director of TDC Ghana Ltd, Alice Abena Ofori-Atta, in a report, said the consistent depreciation of the cedi against major foreign currencies throughout the year remained one of the major constraints to real estate development for property developers and prospective homeowners.
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That notwithstanding, she said the company persevered and sustained transformation and growth in its business operations.
She said TDC currently had several ongoing projects, adding that the pilot phase of the nationwide mortgage financing programme aimed at reducing the housing deficit and providing affordable housing for low-to-middle –to middle-income earners at Community 22 in collaboration with the National Homeownership Fund had been completed.
Ms Ofori-Atta said 405 of such housing units made up of one, two and three-bedroom apartments and townhouses had been completed with works currently ongoing under phase three of that project to deliver a total of 123 two and three-bedroom apartments and six detached three-bedroom townhouses, expected to be completed by December 2024.
She said in line with
TDC’s new mandate of extending to other parts of the country, the
company in collaboration with the National Homeownership Fund, has
initiated the construction of detached houses, roads and infrastructure
at Manya-Jorpanya in the Shai-Osudoku District with the first set of 50
two and four-bedroom houses
expected to be completed in November this year.
Consistency
The Minister of Public Enterprises, Joseph Cudjoe, said TDC Ghana Ltd has consistently proven to be profitable and had thus laid a foundation for a kickoff in the housing sector.
He urged the management of the company to explore opportunities that exist in the capital market by leveraging their expertise to attract private and corporate partners to create wealth.
He also urged the board and management to explore new business lines such as property management and quantity surveying services with the resources and expertise at their disposal to generate more revenue.
Stock exchange
The Acting Director General of the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), John Boadu, commended the TDC for its outstanding performance during the year under review, adding that based on the solid foundations laid by the company, the government was prepared to reduce its stake (shares) to enable the Ghanaian citizens to be part of the TDC’s transformative and excellent performing state-owned enterprise status via the stock exchange.
The Minister of Works and Housing, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah, in a speech read on his behalf by the Chief Director of the ministry, Reverend Stephen Yaw Osei, urged TDC to adopt sustainable building practices by increasing the use of locally sourced materials to help reduce the reliance of imported resources and also open up avenues for accessing green financing, a move that aligns with the national sustainability goals.
Writer’s email: Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh
via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/business/business-news/tdc-ghana-ltd-declares-ghc3m-dividend-to-govt.html
Monday, 4 November 2024
Saturday, 26 October 2024
Kpong Irrigation scheme rehabilitation Phase 2 project takes off (Daily Graphic, Saturday, October 26, 2024 Page 24)
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The second phase aims to offer access to irrigation water to smallholder farmers, private commercial farmers and other stakeholders.
The works include rehabilitation of irrigation and drainage infrastructure, installation of instrumentation and automation equipment for enhanced water delivery and management as well as rehabilitation of road networks in areas around Akuse and Asutsuare in the Eastern and Greater Accra regions, respectively.
It is part of the $22.6 million West Africa Food System Resilience Programme (FSRP), a World Bank-funded initiative, with technical supervision from the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA).
The first phase was completed under the Ghana Commercial Agriculture Project (GCAP) between 2017 and 2021, covering 4000 hectares.
The project is expected to ensure full operationalisation with improved water use efficiency for the remaining 931 hectares of farming area, increasing crop production and food security.
Sod-cutting
Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony last Thursday at Akuse, on behalf of the Sector Minister, Bryan Acheampong, the Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) in charge of Crops, Yaw Frimpong Addo, said the project demonstrated the government’s commitment to building the resilience of food production and delivery systems across the country.
He said in addition to physical infrastructural developments, the government was facilitating enhanced value chain activities under the Planting for Food and Jobs( PFJ 2.0 ) using the input credit system linked to aggregator, anchor farmer - smallholder arrangement for technology dissemination and market access.
Collaboration
The Senior Agriculture Economist of the World Bank Ghana and Task Team Leader of FSRP, Dr Ashwini Sebastian, on behalf of the World Bank Country Director for Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, Robert Taliercio, said irrigation was just one phase of the agricultural value chain.
She underscored the importance of irrigation but indicated that in Ghana only three per cent of cultivated land was under irrigation
She said under FSRP, the World Bank would be supporting other value chain interventions, including the use of climate-smart seeds, adoption of innovative agricultural practices and marketing integration, among other interventions.
In his welcoming address, the acting Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA), Richard Oppong Boateng, said as was the experience in recent times, Ghana and the rest of the world were being impacted greatly by climate change.
He said while river systems had been affected with unexpected drought, excessive floods had also destroyed farmlands and other livelihoods of farmers.
Mr Boateng said these shocks called for the need to build resilience to mitigate the shocks relating to water resource used for agriculture, livestock watering and aquaculture development.
This, he said, could be achieved if the irrigation sub-sector of agriculture was given the needed attention as it was the tool for green revolution and the game changer for agricultural transformation.
Writer's email: benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh
Saturday, 12 October 2024
Shipping lines in Ghana operate within the law – SOAAG (Daily Graphic, Saturday, October 12, 2024 Page 28)
The Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana (SOAAG) has refuted claims that shipping lines operating in Ghana are engaged in exploitative practices and charging arbitrary fees.
The
association stressed that the shipping industry was guided by
international laws and its members conduct their businesses in full
compliance with the laws of every country in which they operated,
including Ghana.
Speaking to journalists in Tema, an executive member of SOAAG, Adam Imoru Ayarna stated: “In shipping, when a shipper approaches a shipping line, there's a dialogue, an offer, and conditions that are agreed upon. These include local administrative charges and freight costs, which are always stated from the onset," he said, adding: “If any stakeholder does not understand the charges, they could seek clarification.”
He was reacting to allegations by some stakeholders in the industry that ship owners and agents were operating outside the rules of operations.
Members of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), the Association of Customs House Agents of Ghana, Freight Forwarders Association of Ghana, Customs Brokers Association of Ghana, on September 24, 2024, embarked on a protest during which they claimed the shipping lines had imposed unreasonable, unwarranted and exorbitant fees, such as local administrative charges, container cleaning fees, empty container fees and demurrage on weekends and holidays.
However, Mr Ayarna said when a shipper wanted to engage the services of shipping lines, the shipper would enter into a contract of carriage between the carrier and shipper for the transportation of the cargo, adding that this contract contained the terms and conditions to which the carrier and shipper were legally bound.
“The contract clearly included local charges at the port of origin and the port of destination, adding that these charges became part of the agreement signed by both parties.”
Demurrage
Addressing concerns related to the application of demurrage during weekends and public holidays when shipping lines and banks were closed, Mr Ayarna said such demurrage payment was avoidable if owners of containers could take advantage of online and remote services offered by the shipping lines to fast-track the release of cargo.
"It's true that demurrage is charged on weekends and holidays, but we've advised shipping lines to make provisions for remote cargo release during these times. Some shipping lines already have platforms that allow agents to release cargo offsite, even on weekends," he explained.
The Executive Secretary of SOAAG, Perpetua Osei-Bonsu, said as the umbrella body for the shipping lines in Ghana, their doors remained open to everyone, including industry players and the media, to throw light on the activities of shipping lines in Ghana and their contributions to the local economy.
Friday, 4 October 2024
I’ll not appeal against my disqualification by EC — Janet Nabla ( Daily Graphic, Friday, October 4, 2024 Page 17)
The EC removed Ms Nabla as a candidate for the December 7, 2024 presidential election because of errors in her candidacy filing papers.
The General Secretary of the People’s National Party (PNP), Sulemana Seidu, the political party of which Ms Nabla is the chairperson and leader, said in a statement he issued yesterday.
Final certificate
Mr Seidu said although the party disagreed with the grounds of disqualification, upon further consultation with its members across the country, the party had decided not to contest the EC’s decision and rather concentrate on receiving its final certificate to enable it to operate as a full fledge political party.
He said PNP as a political party’s existence was not limited to contesting elections but rather educating citizens to help them make an informed decision about political issues, government policies and their impact on the society.
Mr Seidu said the PNP would continue to hold the government of the day accountable by reviewing policies, proposing alternatives and ensuring transparency.
“We, therefore, appeal to our teaming followers to remain resolute as we come out with a direction on the way to go, come December 7, 2024.
Background
Ms Nabla was among the 11 aspirants whose candidacy were rejected by the EC for various reasons, including incomplete filling of the forms, using voters in a particular district to represent another district, repeating voters in a particular district for another district, not having tax certificates, vice presidential candidates not having tax certificates, unsigned forms by vice presidential candidates, among others.
In the case of Janet Nabla, an independent aspirant, the EC explained that she used registration details of particular voters to support her nomination in certain districts in other districts.
The EC said the vice presidential candidate did not sign the forms, adding that the issues were not resolved hence her disqualification.
Monday, 30 September 2024
Community 25 Rotary Club, others present 1,000 books to Tema schools (Daily Graphic, Monday, September 30, 2024 Page 23)
The Rotary Club of Tema Community 25, in collaboration with the Rotaract Club of Tema Meridian Chint Ghana, and Inquiring Minds Bookstore, has donated 1,000 different kinds of reading books to three basic schools in the Tema Metropolis.
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Members of the philanthropic organisations also engaged the learners in various reading activities and on lessons learnt from some of the books they read.
Under a project dubbed “Empowering Young Minds” the gesture was aimed at improving the reading skills and learning outcomes of learners in the beneficiary schools, namely the Tema Manhean TMA Basic 1 and 2 Schools and the Manhean Community Primary School.
Speaking at a ceremony in the Tema Manhean TMA Basic Cluster of Schools last Friday, the President of the Rotary Club of Tema Community 25, Prince Kwame Afetor, said as a philanthropic organisation, the Rotary Club brings together people across generations who wish to create lasting change in the world, in their communities, and in themselves.
Saying that was what informed the selection of the three schools, he said the project hopes to help the young learners read, learn and achieve their aspirations.
He said one of their goals was to strengthen the capacity of communities to support basic education and literacy, and he was optimistic that the new found partnership with the Tema Manhean TMA Basic Cluster of Schools would impact positively on the over 1,200 learners in the beneficiary schools.
Ability
Assistant Governor of Rotary International District 9104, Joseph Dzamasi, expressed the hope that the reading project would significantly improve the reading ability of the learners and also help the learners build their vocabulary, expression, writing skills, and develop their analytical and critical thinking skills.
“Reading opens the mind to incredible possibilities,” he said, and called on parents and teachers to read more and be effective role models for their children in developing the reading habit of their wards from an early age.
The Rotarian in charge of the Back to School Project, Kingsley Ameko Letsa, said reading plays a critical role in education, hence, together with their implementing partners, Rotaract Club of Tema Meridian Chint Ghana, and Inquiring Minds Bookstore, they intend to adopt the schools, mentor them to improve their reading skills and the overall performance of the learners.
The Head of Human Resource at the Tema Metropolitan Education Directorate, Agartha Adrah, on behalf of the Metro Director of Education, Bernice Ofori, expressed appreciation to the philanthropic organisations for their gesture and urged them to sustain the bond between them and the Education Directorate in Tema, to improve overall performance of the learners.
The Headmistress of Manhean Community Primary School, Frances Aboagye, commended the donors and gave the assurance that the books would be put to good use.
Writer’s email: Benjamin.glover@graphic.com.gh
Number Crunch
Reading books of varying titles totaling 1,000, have been presented to the Tema Manhean TMA Basic Cluster of Schools by the Rotary Club of Community 25, Tema.
Wednesday, 25 September 2024
Freight forwarders protest arbitrary charges( Daily Graphic, Wednesday, September 25, 2024 Back Page)
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Freight forwarders in Tema yesterday embarked on a protest against what they termed exploitative practices by shipping lines in Ghana.
The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), in collaboration with the Association of Customs House Agents of Ghana, Freight Forwarders Association of Ghana, Customs Brokers Association of Ghana, and a coalition of trade associations converged on the premises of GIFF to press home their demands.
They explained that the protest was aimed at raising awareness of unfair fees and practices imposed by shipping lines, which were negatively affecting Ghana’s economy and businesses in the logistics and trade sectors.
Clad in red outfits and holding placards with inscriptions such as "pay refunds promptly or abolish container deposits", "Shipping lines and pirates, no difference just landing", "Scrap local charges in US$", "Consumers are receiving the pains of traders", among others, the protesters marched from the premises of GIFF to the offices of selected shipping companies, such as Mediterranean Shipping Company Ghana Limited, Intermodal Shipping Agencies Ghana Ltd, CMA CGM Group, Grimaldi Ghana Ltd and Maersk Ghana Limited, to present their petition to the management, under police escort.
Killer charges
A past President of the Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders, Kwabena Ofosu-Appiah, later in a press briefing, laid out the concerns of the group, and said for several years, shipping lines had imposed unreasonable, unwarranted and exorbitant fees, such as local administrative charges, container cleaning fees, empty container fees and demurrage on weekends and holidays.
“The shipping lines are yet to explain to the Ghanaian trader and consumer why they should continue to pay the unwarranted local administrative charges or whatever name they are called by the various shipping lines,” he said.
He added that the shipping lines had also refused to file their arbitrary local charges for negotiation with the Ghana Shippers Authority as required by Regulation 5 of the Ghana Shippers Authority Regulations, 2012 (L. I. 2190).
The Legislative Instrument, he said, was passed 12 years ago and till date, the shipping lines had refused to abide by it.
He said there was also the growing incidence of shipping lines participating in freight forwarding business, specifically customs house brokerage.
That, Mr Ofosu-Appiah said, was a clear case of abuse of dominance, as they had greater financial muscle to enable them to monopolise the sector and kick the local businesses out.
Demands
The freight forwarders, therefore, demanded an immediate and decisive remedial action on the abolition of all arbitrary and unjustifiable fees, including local administrative charges, container cleaning fees, empty container fees, among others, abolishment of demurrage charges on weekends and holidays. Negotiation of shipping lines’ charges with the Ghana Shippers Authority as required by the Ghana Shippers' Authority Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2190).
Again, they called for a refund of all unjustified fees previously collected from shippers and freight forwarders, provision of 24-hour services seven days a week by shipping lines to eliminate unnecessary delays and ensure the timely processing of goods, especially during weekends and public holidays, cessation of customs house brokerage services by shipping lines and cessation of the practice of charging fees in dollars.
Dialogue
An Executive Member of Ship Owners and Agents Association of Ghana (SOAAG), Adam Imoro Ayarna, in an interview, stressed the need for dialogue among all the stakeholders to address the concerns.
Writer’s email: Benjamin.glover@graphic.
com.gh
Tuesday, 24 September 2024
Freight forwarders accuse shipping lines of arbitrary charges (Graphic Online, Tuesday, September 24, 2024 )
Freight Forwarders' in Tema on Tuesday embarked on a protest against what they termed exploitative practices by shipping lines in Ghana.
The Ghana Institute of Freight Forwarders (GIFF), in collaboration with the Association of Customs House Agents of Ghana, Freight Forwarders Association of Ghana, Customs Brokers Association of Ghana, and a coalition of trade associations converged at the premises of the GIFF to press home their demands.
Clad in red outfits and holding placards with inscription such as "pay refunds promptly or abolish container deposits", "Shipping lines and pirates, no difference just landing", "Scrap local charged in US $", "Consumers are receiving the pains of traders" among others, the organisers said the Tuesday [, September 24,2024] protest was aimed at raising awareness of unfair fees and practices imposed by shipping lines, which were negatively affecting Ghana’s economy and businesses in the logistics and trade sectors.
"This demonstration has significant implications for the country's economy and the future of Ghana’s shipping industry." Nana Asiamah Peprah, Vice Chairman of GIFF said.
Thursday, 5 September 2024
PNP endorses Janet Nabla as flag bearer - Dr Ayesu is running mate (Daily Graphic, Thursday, September 5, 2024 Page 17)
The People's National Party (PNP) has selected Janet Asana Nabla as the party's flag bearer for the 2024 general elections.
The party has also endorsed Dr Edmund Ayesu, a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Science Research, Kumasi Technical University, as its running mate.
This was contained in a statement issued by the PNP on Monday, September 2, 2024, and signed by its General Secretary, Suleman Seidu.
Mr Seidu indicated that the National Executive Committee of the PNP made the decision at a meeting held on Sunday, September 1, 2024.
He stressed that the pivotal decision marked a significant step towards the party's journey to provide Ghana with a leadership team committed a transformative change.
He said the choice of Ms Nabla was based on her rich background in public service, health administration and political leadership adding that she brings vitals to the board and unwavering commitment to the values of gender equality, economic sovereignty and social justice.
The statement said her historic role as the first female general secretary of a political party in Ghana spoke to her trailblazing spirit and dedication to uplifting all Ghanaians.
On Dr Ayesu, the PNP said his experience in applied econometrics modelling, policy design and civil society activism aligned seamlessly with the PNP’s vision of a prosperous and equitable Ghana.
Confidence
The statement described the PNP’s decision as one that underscores the party's confidence in Ms Nabla and Dr Ayesu as the ideal team to lead the party into the December polls, focusing on the pillars of family, community and the motherland.
The PNP called on Ghanaians to rally behind the duo as they work towards a future that prioritises the well-being and prosperity of every citizen.
Monday, 2 September 2024
GRA engages market women on need for tax compliance (Daily Graphic, Monday September 2, 2024 , Page 29)
The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) has held a tax sensitisation programme for traders at the Tema Community One Market on the need to promptly file their monthly tax returns for accountability.
The staff interacted with the market women on the need to pay their taxes and comply with the law governing tax payments.
The GRA also used the platform to sensitise them to its new online portal for tax payment and good governance practices.
The Greater Accra East Area Director in charge of Domestic Tax Revenue, GRA, Assistant Commissioner, Joseph Asare, highlighted the importance of filing tax returns promptly to avoid sanctions.
Mr Asare said as part of the strategic direction of GRA, the Authority had decided to create awareness among trade associations and individuals on the importance of filing their returns, paying taxes and complying with the law.
“We have decided to engage at the local level by deepening the relationship and visiting trade associations, market women, clubs, etc. to ensure that we are able to expand the tax net.” He said.
Mr Asare opined that by engaging the traders, the authority hoped to expand the tax net to ensure that everyone contributed, adding that “it would help in improving the revenue generation of the country.
“The tax burden is just on a few people, so this is a way of deepening the awareness and widening the net for more people to enter so that we can expand the tax base,“ he said.
The Tema Community One Taxpayer Service Centre Office Manager, Lydia Owusu Banahene, educated the women on the benefits of paying their taxes, which included infrastructure development, the construction of schools, health facilities, and other interventions undertaken by the government.
He said the authority had made transactions with their clients convenient and easy by the introduction of the online portal, and therefore, encouraged the traders to pay taxes online.
Motivation
The Vice-Chairman of the Tema Community One Central Market Association, Philip Kwesi Kyei, encouraged the GRA staff in Tema to regularly visit markets to educate the traders on the need to pay taxes to develop the country.
He said informal workers and businesses did not pay income tax in the same way as formal ones but with regular sensitisation, traders would be motivated to file their returns, initiate payments, apply for refunds, undertake cashless policies and perform other transactions without walking to GRA offices.
Saturday, 31 August 2024
Govt must bear cost of transporting emergency cases - DDHS Group ( Daily Graphuic, Saturday, August 31, 2024 Page 17)
The District Directors of Health Services (DDHS) Group has called on the government to take full responsibility for the cost of transporting emergency cases by the National Ambulance Service, regardless of the distance.
The group has also advocated the acquisition of at least two aircraft ambulances to support urgent referrals, particularly from remote areas.
This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 31st Annual General Conference of the DDHS Group at Ada in the Greater Accra Region
The communiqué, jointly signed by the National Chairman of the group, Dr Justice Thomas Sevugu, and the National Secretary, Martin Sumani Daanko, further called on the government to streamline and improve the efficiency of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) claims reimbursement process to ensure the financial stability of health facilities.
This year’s conference,on the theme: “Accelerating Towards Universal Health Coverage with a Strengthened Primary Health Through the Networks Approach: The Role of the DDHS and Stakeholders,” brought together DDHS members, Senior Managers of the Ghana Health Service and health partners to deliberate on critical health service delivery issues in Ghana.
The communiqué, among others, called on the Ghana Health Service to liaise with the Ministry of Works and Housing to address the accommodation challenges faced by health workers by constructing affordable housing units in critical areas.
They also urged the government to place District Directors of Health Services on all allowances due to Level 23H office holders in the public sector, ensuring fairness and equity in their remuneration.
Still on funding, the DDHS Group called on the government to restore the allocation of Government of Ghana funding and ensure its timely release to District/Municipal/Metropolitan Health Directorates to support their operations and public health activities at the Community-Based Health Planning and Services (CHPS) level.
They further urged the government to provide financial clearance for the recruitment of critical technical and support staff to strengthen the capacity of District/Municipal/Metropolitan Health Directorates.
Concerns and challenges
The DDHS Group identified a significant shortage of essential technical and support staff, including laboratory and pharmacy technicians, storekeepers, security personnel, orderlies and labourers, which they said hampered effective health service delivery.
Further, they bemoaned the inequitable distribution of health workers across districts, a situation affecting the quality of health services in underserved areas and reiterated the need for the government to address those challenges.
“Many health facilities are burdened with obsolete medical equipment and deteriorating infrastructure, compromising the quality of care provided to patients,” the communique said.
Accommodation
The communique noted that the lack of adequate accommodation for health workers, particularly in rural areas, continued to be a major challenge affecting staff retention and morale and highlighted the need for those challenges to be resolved.
The group highlighted the need for
increased funding to improve sanitation in health facilities,
particularly in managing medical waste.
They noted that
transportation of samples of suspected diseases to reference
laboratories for confirmatory tests was often delayed, affecting timely
diagnosis and treatment, therefore, urged the government to address the
concerns urgently.
It further requested that the government should grant tax waivers to DDHS members and health workers to facilitate the importation of vehicles which were often used to support healthcare.
Monday, 26 August 2024
GHS implements model health centres towards Universal Health Coverage (Daily Graphic, Monday, August 26, 2024 Page 49)
The Director-General of the Ghana Health Service (GHS), Dr Patrick Kuma-Aboagye, has said a total of 420 health centres are being upgraded into Model Health Centres to enhance quality primary health care.
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The Model Health Centres, located in selected communities across the country, will provide 24-hour easily accessible and affordable healthcare services to healthcare seekers, particularly in rural communities, to reduce the incidence of maternal and child mortality and morbidity.
Dr Kuma-Aboagye said this on Wednesday, August 22, 2024 at the opening session of the 31st Annual General Conference of District Directors of Health Services (DDHS) Group held at Ada in the Greater Accra Region.
The annual conference serves as a forum for the heads of district health directorates to take stock, share ideas and best practices in order to improve the country’s health outcomes.
This year's conference was on the theme: "Accelerating towards Universal Health Coverage with a Strengthened Primary Health Care through the Networks of Practice Approach: The Role of DDHS and Stakeholders".
Dr Kuma-Aboagye said out of the proposed 420 model health centres, 153 of them across the 16 regions of Ghana had been identified, adding that contractors would soon be deployed to the sites.
He said the service had recruited 250 new Physician Assistants who would be deployed to the model health centres to offer affordable primary healthcare services to particularly rural dwellers to propel Ghana towards attainment of the Universal Health Coverage target in 2030.
Dr Kuma-Aboagye said universal health care was not merely a global aspiration, but a national imperative for Ghana, stressing that in Ghana about half of the population could not count on having direct access to health services.
Embrace change
He said with barely six years to attain the Universal Health Coverage, there was the urgent need for service providers to begin to do things differently by unifying programmes, partners and stakeholders in our forward march towards a better health coverage using the network of practice approach (NOP).
The NOP aims to ensure the availability of adequate health infrastructure, equipment, trained and compelled workforce to provide high levels of care, strengthen referral linkages and facilitate resource sharing among modern health centres.
He assured participants of GHS’s continuous provision of human resources and equipment at all levels of healthcare services to improve primary health care across the country, and also charged them to show leadership by rationalising allocated resources to strengthen the organisation's service delivery capacity.
Dr Kuma-Aboagye said as part of GHS’s commitment to health information system, the service had invested in technology to facilitate real time data sharing and telemedicine, among others. To that end, health facilities across the country have been connected to fibre systems to enhance digital health innovations.
He further revealed plans by the service to introduce a National Boat Service to provide primary health care to people in riverine communities in hard-to-reach districts.
Conditions of Service
The President of the DDHS Group, Dr Justice Thomas Sevugu, reiterated the call for better conditions of service for District Health Directors and improved infrastructure at the district level since they were the implementers of national health policies and programmes.
The Greater Accra Regional Director of Health Services, Dr Akosua Agyeiwaa Owusu-Sarpong, reminded the participants of their role in the implementation of the NOP within their districts, and urged them to prioritise the implementation of the policy towards the achievement of universal health coverage.
Present at the opening session were the Mankralo of the Ada Traditional Area, Nene Agudey Obitchere III, who chaired the function, the District Chief Executive of Ada East, Sarah Dugbakie Pobee; Coordinator, Health Systems, World Health Organisation Ghana Office, Dr Sofonias Asrat Gatachew, and the Director of Policy Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (PPMED) of the MOH, Dr Alberta Biritwum.
via: https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/ghana-news-ghs-implements-model-health-centres-towards-universal-health-coverage.html
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