Vice-President calls for uniformity of tariffs at ports

BENJAMIN GLOVER & DELLA RUSSEL OCLOO  

31 JANUARY 2017

Mr Jacob Adorkor (in reflective jacket), the Director of Port, taking Dr Bawumia, the Vice-President, round the facility.

The Vice-President, Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, has hinted that the government may ensure some standardisation in the exchange rate within the ports to ensure uniformity of tariffs.

According to him, although we were in a free market, some level of standardisation ought to be put in place to ensure that port charges, using foreign exchange rates, did not put people out of business.

“We have heard several complaints about unstable exchange rates, and while we may want a free market, we want to see harmonisation, where some level of standardisation is applied to all the market,” Dr Bawumia said.

The Vice-President made this known when he paid a surprise visit to the Tema Port yesterday.

The visit, he said, was to make the government understand issues concerning port business and examine the processes, so that they could be taken on board for policy formulation.

Operational areas

Dr Bawumia toured the various operational areas, such as the Golden Jubilee Terminal (GJT), the Document Verification Centre, popularly known as the Long Room, and the Atlas Holding yard where confiscated vehicles are kept.

He also called on the management of the Meridian Port Services (MPS) to apprise himself of the ongoing Tema Port expansion project.

He was conducted round the facility by the Director of Ports at the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Mr Jacob Adorkor, and some management staff of the authority.

Port improvement

Dr Bawumia indicated that Ghana’s ports were competing with other ports across the West African subregion, hence the need to ensure improved performance and efficiency across the board.

He pointed out that the importance of Ghana’s ports to its economy could not be underestimated.

Giving his impressions after the tour, the Vice-President indicated that the interaction with clearing agents, Customs officials, importers and other stakeholders suggested the need for improved performance.

“Customers are complaining about very high handling charges, import duties, duties on ambulances, outboard motors, among others, and we will work with stakeholders to ensure some level of comfort for the trading public,” he hinted.

He was of the view that the harmonisation of processes would ensure speedy port processes, hence the need to get first-hand information which would help the economic management team formulate policies in that direction.

Congestion

Dr Bawumia expressed worry over the seeming congestion at the various holding terminals within the port.

“I have seen a lot of vehicles piled up, taking up space. There are also mattresses, used fridges, among other goods, and it is important that we make people understand what import duties are, so they don’t ship items into the country and leave them unclaimed at the port terminals,” he said.

He proposed the need for a common website where importers could periodically check on import duty costs to inform their shipping decisions.

via: http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/vice-president-calls-for-uniformity-of-tariffs-at-ports.html

Chemu SHS wins Tema Metro debate

BENJAMIN XORNAM GLOVER  

25 JANUARY 2017

The Chemu Senior High School in Tema has won an Independence Day inter-school debate with 78.7 points. Tema Senior High School and Tema Technical Institute placed second and third with 66 and 62.3 points, respectively.

The debate was organised by the Tema Metropolitan office of the Ghana Education Service (GES) for seven senior high schools in the metropolis to select the best second-cycle school for the Presidential Award competition during the 60th Independence Day Celebration in March.

A group photograph of the debaters from the participating schools with the panel of judges and other officials of GES at the event

Chemu SHS will, therefore, represent the Tema Zone at the Greater Accra Regional contest and seek to qualify for the national event.

The contest, which was held at the Tema Manhean Senior High Technical School, was on the theme: “Social Media, a blessing or a curse” had three students from each of the participating schools arguing for and against the motion after which the panel of judges awarded marks.

Masters Jonathan Agbetsomedo, Henry Adjetey and Miss Sandra Anani, the Principal Speaker, First Supporting Speaker, Second Principal Speaker, respectively for Chemu SHS, argued for the motion.

They maintained that social media aided in real time communication, allowed for instant messaging and helped in expanding businesses through advertising.

They further argued that social media platforms promoted representation and aided in improving security and offered relevant information to the public.

Contestants from the Tema SHS, represented by Seraphine Akua Dogbey, Donald Kwabena Sagoe and Cyndy Ohenewaa Abeasi, who held a contrary view, contended that social media were prime time wasters, contributed to poor academic performance by students, facilitated examination malpractices, infringed on the privacy of people, promoted cyber fraud and cyber bullying and hada toll on the health and psychological makeup of users.

They also stressed that the platforms were promoting pornography among the youth.

Tema Technical Institute placed third. It was represented by Francis Aggrey, Sulley Nartey Agborkey and Petia Fafa Ashiabi who also debated in favour of the motion.

The Tema Metropolitan Director of Education, Mrs Margaret Frempong Kore, advised students to make good use of the debating clubs and other extra curriculum activities in their schools to help boost their confidence.

The Chief Judge for the debate, Mr Azeriya Ayeriga, said the debaters were judged on their logical presentation, knowledge of subject matter, technical information, ability to rebut points from opponents, clarity and register, teamwork and referencing.

via: http://www.graphic.com.gh/juniors/junior-news/chemu-shs-wins-tema-metro-debate.html

Tension brews at Gbetsile

BENJAMIN GLOVER   

27 JANUARY 2017

The chief and elders of Gbetsile in the Kpone-Katamanso District in the Greater Accra Region have noted with concern the activities of land guards who are terrorising legitimate landowners and developers in the area.

They also said not only were the activities of land guards frustrating the people, but they had also become a nuisance in the night because those land guards turned themselves into armed robbers who robbed residents and raped ladies in the neighbourhood.

The traditional authorities have, therefore, sounded a strong warning to land guards operating in Gbetsile and on its boundary with Appolonia to desist from their nefarious operations before they find themselves in serious trouble.

Addressing a press conference last Wednesday at his palace, Nii Teye Kojo I made reference to encroachment on large tracts of land by persons whom he said did not have legitimate documents and advised the encroachers to give way before it was too late.

Nii Teye Kojo expressed disappointment over what he termed the inability of the Ghana Police Service to arrest and prosecute the recalcitrant land guards and called on the police to up their game.

“The activities of these terrible land guards are centred on the boundary with Appolonia and within Gbetsile Stool lands. These activities have been reported several times to the police, yet no arrests are made, and the people still live in fear. We call on the police to intensify their security patrols around the community and to protect lives and property and to also prosecute persons who are found culpable,’’ he said.

He pointed out that Gbetsile lands “are stool lands which are owned solely by the Gbetsile Stool and, therefore, any person or group of persons who intends to buy or lease a piece of land in Gbetsile must approach the Stool.”

 “It has come to the attention of the Gbetsile Stool that several people have occupied pieces or parcels of Gbetsile Stool lands without legitimate cause. The Gbetsile Stool, therefore, entreats all residents of Gbetsile who have built on parcels or portions of Gbetsile lands but do not have documents from the Stool to report to the Gbetsile Stool immediately for regularisation of their interest in the lands,’’ Nii Teye Kojo indicated.

He said any person or group of persons who failed to comply would have themselves to blame when the stool institutes a court action against them or if there is an order for demolition of their buildings.

Alleged ownership of land

Nii Teye Kojo alleged that about 600 acres belonging to the Gbetsile Stool located on the boundary with Appolonia¡ have been wrongfully taken over and fenced by the management of Zoomlion and Sino Africa Development Company.

According to him, no such parcel of land has been released or given to Zoomlion or Sino Africa Development.

He, therefore, cautioned the developers to desist from embarking on any development on the said land but should contact the Stool, stressing that ‘’there is only one occupant of the Gbetsile Stool and his name is Nii Tei Kojo I.’’

The Paramount Chief of the Kpone Traditional Area, Nii Tetteh Otu, advised the youth in the area to desist from giving support to chiefs and selfish people in the area who were engaged in the sale of lands in the community.

via: http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/tension-brews-at-gbetsile.html

Data Link Institute holds 7th congregation

BENJAMIN GLOVER  

28 JANUARY 2017

Mrs Christiana Ampomah Nkansah, who graduated with a First Class degree (Human Resource Management Option), in a handshake with the Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Madam Sun Baohong and other dignitaries at the event.

The Data Link Institute (DLI) last Thursday held its seventh congregation during which degrees and certificates were conferred on 320 graduates who had successfully completed their programmes of study.

The institute, established in 2006, is affiliated to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.

They graduated in various courses in Bachelor of Science (BSc) Business Administration, with 80 majoring in Human Resource Management, 59  in Accounting; 33 in Banking and Finance; 37 in Marketing. Twenty others completed courses in Bsc Computer Science, 38 in Information and Communications Technology, while 11 received certificates from the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport.

Awards

Mr Rudolf Akumatey Tetteh emerged the Overall Best, as well as the best Human Resource Management and Best Male Student. Other award winners were: Miss Priscilla Essien, (Best Female Student), Miss Phyllis Essi Sefakor Kwaku, (Best Student in Banking and Finance) and Miss Ruth Adusu, Best Student, Marketing.

The rest were Arnold Gadugah, (Best Student, Accounting), Abdul Razak Tetteh, ( Best Student, Computer Science and  Information Systems,) Emmanuel Tetteh Ayenu, (Best Student, Information and Communications Technology), Miss Gloria Adams, (Best International Student) and Isaac Nana Eshun, (Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport)

In his address, the Founder and Chancellor of DLI, Mr Ernest Ansah, noted that private universities had brought vitality and increased access to tertiary education in Ghana but regrettably, all private universities were currently facing a drought in enrolment.

Challenges

“This is mainly because our public mentoring universities are in direct competition with their mentored private universities on the “Enrolment Market”. This situation is worsened by high service charges from public universities paid by private universities for mentorship.

According to the chancellor, the problem was further aggravated by the high charges paid to the regulatory bodies, stressing that “this calls for action to reduce the burden in order to give private universities some breathing space to play their expected role in tertiary education delivery in Ghana.”

Mr Ansah also advocated the decentralisation of the regulatory functions of the National Accreditation Board (NAB) to the regions to enhance their oversight functions in view of logistics and human resource challenges.

“It will also seek to enhance the capacity of NAB to perform their essential functions with maximum efficiency when backed by adequate government funding,” he added.

Mr Ansah said soon, the suspended multi-purpose project at Tema Community One and Community Six would materialise and upon completion,it would provide adequate space to satisfy the infrastructure needs of the institute. That, he explained, would serve as a prelude to the development of the permanent campus site at Doryumu along the Tema-Akosombo road.

National Devt

The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Madam Sun Baohong, who was the guest speaker, said Ghana, apart from the rich natural resources, abundant talent reserves, peace and relative stability also required patriotism, hard work, pragmatic and innovative thinking to drive national development.

She expressed the hope that the students would grow to exhibit high quality talents that would meet the needs of Ghana’s development with a strong sense of mission, loft, ideal and indomitable spirit to promote the process of Ghana’s industrialisation and economic transformation.

“

via: http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/education/data-link-institute-holds-7th-congregation.html

Fire fighters avert tragedy after fuel tankers go up in flames

BENJAMIN XORNAM GLOVER  

26 JANUARY 2017

Remains of the fuel tankers 

Tragedy was averted yesterday when three tankers, fully loaded with fuel products, went up in flames at the Tanker Yard near the Kpone Barrier in Tema.

The vehicles, with registration numbers GB 1488-12, AS 3975 V and GB 1491 -12, which were parked within the premises of a garage, suddenly exploded.

It took personnel of the Fire Service about 40 minutes to bring the ravaging fire under control and prevent it from spreading to nearby factories.

Even though the cause of the explosion is yet to be ascertained, some eyewitnesses suspect one of the tankers might have developed a mechanical fault.

There were no casualties.

Brief

The Operations Officer in charge of the Devtraco Courts Fire Station, Assistant Divisional Officer II Mr John Abeiku Blankson, who confirmed the incident to the Daily Graphic, acknowledged that his team had a hectic time fighting the fire, noting that they had to rally support from five other fire stations to eventually bring the fire under control.

 He said investigations had commenced to establish the actual cause of the fire.

 According to him, his outfit received a distress call about a fire outbreak near the Kpone Barrier some few minutes after 10 a.m. yesterday.

He said looking at the magnitude of the fire, they had to call for reinforcement from the Ashaiman,Tema Regional Headquarters and other nearby stations to support in extinguishing the fire.

He said it took the personnel about 30 minutes to confine the fire and finally extinguish it 10 minutes later.

Mechanical fault

A security man at the garage, who refused to mention his name, said one of the tankers developed a fault and a mechanic was called in to fix it.

He said moments after the mechanic had left, smoke was detected from the faulty truck when it was about to set off.  It suddenly caught fire, which spread to the two tankers parked nearby.

via: http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/fire-fighters-avert-tragedy-after-fuel-tankers-go-up-in-flames.html

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17 Fishermen arrested for illegal fishing

BENJAMIN GLOVER  

07 JANUARY 2017

Seventeen fishermen have been arrested by the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), the Marine Police of the Ghana Police Service and the Fisheries Enforcement Unit of the Ministry of Fisheries for allegedly engaging in light fishing.

The illegal fishermen and the items

The fishermen were  using a total of 33 portable generator sets with high intensity light accessories in contravention of the Fisheries Regulation 2010, LI 1968.

Section 11 of the Fisheries Regulation 2010, LI 1968 stipulates that a person shall not, within the fisheries waters of Ghana, use any fishing method that aggregates fish by light attractions, including the use of portable generator sets,  switch boards, bulbs beyond 500 watts or bulbs whose culminating light intensity attract fish and long cables able to facilitate light production.

Briefing journalists in Tema, the Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Command, Commodore Moses Beick-Baffoe, said on board the 17 canoes  were an average of two generator sets with light accessories, some of which had an intensity of 1,000 watts.

Investigations

The suspects, he said, had been handed over to the Fisheries Enforcement Unit for further investigations and prosecution.

He warned that the navy would continue to carry out its legitimate and core duties and urged those engaged in illegal fishing to desist from the act.

Closed season

Commodore Beick-Baffoe said last month was declared as a closed fishing season for trawlers, adding that the Fisheries Commission, which had the mandate to preserve and protect the fish stock, approached the navy for regular patrols to ensure that the closed season was observed.

He added “that this arrest should send a strong message to other operators in the sector to be mindful of their illegal fishing actions and respect the regulations governing the sector.”

via: http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/17-fishermen-arrested-for-illegal-fishing.html

Tema Customs misses revenue target for 2016

Mr George Blankson (standing), the Commissioner General of the GRA, speaking at the event. 

The Tema Sector of the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) fell short of its 2016 revenue target. 

The sector collected some GH¢7.334 billion, representing 95.37 percent of its target of GH¢7.690 billion, thereby missing the target by 4.63 per cent.

That notwithstanding, officials of the sector, which is the largest revenue collection point in the country, said the 2016 performance showed a 20.55 percent revenue growth from that of 2015.

The Sector Commander, Mr Confidence Nyadzi, disclosed this at an end of year get-together and awards night organised by the sector in Tema over the weekend.

Non-revenue activities

He indicated that the sector, during the year under review, also arrested and confiscated some 5,633 and 2,646 used fridges and mattresses, respectively, since those items were classified as banned goods.

He explained that the importation of those items could endanger public health and further have negative implications on the environment and so the sector had instituted a strict monitoring regime to ensure that those items were not allowed onto the open market.

“Some arms and ammunition were also intercepted, while a syndicate that was abusing diplomatic exemptions through the illicit importation of non-diplomatic cargo through diplomatic channels was arrested accordingly,” he stated.

Efficiency

Mr Nyadzi said the sector would continue to work hard to improve efficiency in its operations through the streamlining of functions.

 It had also instituted capacity-building programmes and media engagements to ensure that results were achieved within specific time frames.

Target

The Commissioner of the Customs Division of the GRA, Mr John Kuudamnuru Vianney, for his part, indicated that out of the national target of GHc10.8 billion for 2016, his outfit could manage to collect GHc10.315.

He ascribed the decline in 2016 to the fact that it was an election year which saw most business people adopting a wait-and-see attitude.

“There have been some election years in the past when we were able to achieve our targets and even exceeded them. However, 2016 was a very difficult year,” Mr Vianney indicated.

He suggested that the division’s performance would be judged on the ability of officers to live up to the task and work harder towards the attainment of targets.

Commissioner-General

The Commissioner-General of the GRA, Mr George Blankson, said even though the Customs Division could not hit its target, the entire division deserved commendation for its hard work in 2016.

“We have a responsibility to deliver better services as public servants. Therefore, do not feel comfortable but rather strive to perform better in the coming years to meet the higher expectation of the public,” he told the officers, adding, “Perform better in the years ahead; don’t feel comfortable but make the effort to meet expectations.”

Awards

Awards were presented to staff and stakeholders for their performance in the year under review.

The Sector Commander's Special Award went to Mr Ransford Samuel Abaka, a Chief Revenue Officer, while the Chief Revenue Officer in charge of Outdoor, Mr Peter Alu, received the Most Outstanding Manager award.

West Blue Consulting, GCNet and Bollore Africa were also honoured, with the Large Taxpayer award going to Dangote Cement.

via : http://www.graphic.com.gh/news/general-news/tema-customs-misses-revenue-target-for-2016.html