Month: June 2013

Member of Parliament for Manso Adubia in the Ashante Region, Yaw Frimpong Addo has expressed fear that needless death may soon occur in the constituency if several abandoned mining pits are not covered.

According to him, many of such pits dotted around the area have been left uncovered as the miners deserted the mines for fear of being arrested by the Inter-Ministerial Task Force after they stormed the place.

Nearly a month ago President John Dramani Mahama inaugurated an Inter-Ministerial Task Force chaired by the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Alhaji Inusah Fuseini, with the Minister of the Interior, Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, the Minister of Defence, Mr Mark Woyongo, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Ms Hannah Tetteh, and the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr Joe Oteng-Adjei, as members to flush out Ghanaians and foreigners engaged in illegal mining (galamsey) in the country.

The task force is mandated to ensure that laws on small-scale mining are fully enforced and seize all equipment used by those who fail to comply with new directives on obtaining or renewing their licences.

However speaking on Hot FM, MP for the area Hon. Yaw Frimpong Addo was of the opinion that the miners should have been allowed some time to fill the pits before being flushed out of the place.

“Now that the miners have run away for their dear lives, who is going to cover the pits and how soon will it be done’’ he asked?

He said the modus operandi of the Taskforce must be clearly spelt out and known by the public as there have been reports of some military and the police personnel assaulting people found on mining concessions.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Member of Parliament for Bortianor/Ngleshie/Amanfro, Bright Edward Kodzo Demordzi has adviced inhabitants of seven communities in his constituency who are to face severe flooding, not to pay deaf ears to the warnings by Ghana Urban Water Limited (GUWL) to spill the Weija Dam soon.

He said it would be in the interest of the constituents themselves to begin to move from the catchment area of the dam rather than staying put and losing their lives and property in the event of the spillage.

The seven communities all in the Ga South which are located downstream the dam are Bortianor, Lower Weija, Lower Oblogo, Lower McCarthy, Sapema, Tsokome, and Tetegu, as well as Pambros Salt Manufacturing Limited and Bojo Beach.

Following recent rains, the water level of the Densu River, which is the source of water for the Weija Dam, is rising steadily.

According to officials of the Weija Dam currently the water level is 42 feet and does not pose any danger, but the existence of the dam would be threatened if the water exceeds the safe operational level of 47 feet as the facility would breakdown.

Hon. Bright Edward Kodzo Demordzi expressed confidence that if the Hydrology Department could help desilt the Densu and the Kokodzo Rivers the effect of the spillage on the lives of the people will to a large extent to minimize.

He blamed the ability of constituents to put up their buildings at those places which are ‘no go’ areas to the lack of adequate planning systems by the assembly.

Hon. Bright Edward Kodzo Demordzi urged the assembly to step up its inspection role to ensure that buildings and other structure at not put up on the catchment area of the dam.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Member of Parliament for Amenfi Central, George Kofi Arthur has predicted that Ghana may lose its enviable position as the second world largest producer of cocoa if cocoa lands are not secured.

According to him, there is a growing tendency where several lands deposited with natural resources which had cocoa planted on them are now being sold to mining companies to mine minerals.

The MP who is also the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior was contributing to a discussion on the devastating effect of small-scale mining (Galamsey) on the environment.

In recent times there has been public outcry over indiscriminate mining activities by small scale miners and especially the taking over of mining concessions across the country by Chinese people whose activities have gravely destroyed the land and other water bodies.

Hon. George Kofi Arthur stated that the current situation if not checked may cause a decline in the country’s production of cocoa realized annually.

He emphasized the need for galamsey to be restructured to ensure that its effect on the lives of people and the environment is minimized.

Hon. Kofi Arthur further alleged that some chiefs and respectable opinion leaders are deeply involved in galamsey making efforts to fight indiscriminate mining very difficult.

“I have consistently stood up against chiefs who are involved in galamsey, and this created a bad name for me in some areas, but once I’m doing the right thing I’m not bothered.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh

At the time most constituencies in the country are fighting for the establishment of additional senior high schools to cater for the increasing number of qualified graduates from the junior high school, Sekyere Afram Plains cannot even boast of one.

The Member of Parliament for the area, Alex Adomako-Mensah disclosing this o Ghanamps.gov.gh said the situation is uncalled for especially when one considers the level of poverty in the area making it difficult for most parents to send their children to schools in other areas which will have huge financial implications to them.

According to him, the quest for improved literacy rate has to be backed by easy accessibility to education and is happy government has taken the initiative to build two hundred new community senior high schools with special consideration to areas that lack.

Meanwhile, the junior high level is also not completely out of difficulty because there are less than ten (10) junior high schools in the area which are barely enough for the population of children of school going age.

In another development, Mr. Alex Adomako-Mensah called for extension of electricity to communities in the constituency to enhance economic activities as well as enable students to take advantage of the government laptop project to acquire skills in information and communication technology.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.gov.gh

School infrastructure in Suhum has been given a boost with the construction of three new school blocks at three communities.

They include 3-unit classroom block with toilet and urinal each at Oboatumepan, and Nkantekrom and 6-unit classroom with ancillary facilities at Afransu Dedewa. The facilities are for both primary and junior high schools.

The Member of Parliament for Suhum, Frederick Opare-Ansah who sponsored the construction of the projects commended the various communities for the communal spirit in providing labour towards the projects and urged them to keep doing so till the projects are fully complete and handed over to the schools.

He bemoaned the hard conditions under which some students and their teachers teach and learn and promised to do more by collaborating with relevant stakeholders in the education sector and the assembly to help improve educational infrastructure in the area. He also noted that some school blocks which are in bad conditions are also being renovated and will be completed soon especially as the rains have started.

Ghanamps.gov.gh/Dominic Shirimori

Hon. James Cecil Yanwube, Member of Parliament for Tatale/Sanguli has indicated that for over a decade now, residents of Tatale have had to contend with poor stretches of road without any major rehabilitation works on its road infrastructure.

“For 16 good years, Tatale town did not see a single project or any development on its two mile stretch road through the town”, he cited.

Highlighting this in a paper laid before parliament, and made available a copy to Ghanamps.gov.gh, Mr Yanwube noted that the situation has only culminated in a deteriorating condition of its road network which have remained eroded, bumpy and untarred.

He for instance said the only tangible assets Tatale could show for, is the E.P Agricultural Senior High School started by the Evangelical Presbyterian Church and a health centre.

In the case of the surrounding towns and villages, he reiterated that no substantive development has happened in those areas except the establishment of Health centres, Clinics and CHPS for them.

He revealed that although Tatale’s health centre has been upgraded to a district hospital, the facility is faced with serious challenges that relatively discredit its status as a district health facility.

He said unfortunately the facility could only boast of a lone Medical officer for the whole district as at now, hence solicited supports from the Ministry of Health (MOH) to assist improve facilities at the hospital.

He also called for attention from government to help it improve the road network in the Tatale township and the district as a whole.

Jonathan Jeffrey Adjei/Ghanamps.gov.gh

MP for Okaikoi Central Constituency in the Greater Accra Region, Hon. Patrick Yaw Boamah has successfully lobbied for the link roads in his constituency to be tarred.

Most roads in the area including Abeka, Lapaz, Achimota connects the N1 highway which has been experiencing a lot of vehicular traffic congestion in recent times.

Mr. Francis Bebobru, Chairman of project planning committee in the Constituency making this information known on behalf of the MP said, Hon. Yaw Boamah in his bid to reduce the traffic congestion in the area had informed the Roads and Highways about the issue.

According to him, experts from the Roads and Highways had promised to tour the area today in order to select roads which may need prompt attention for them to be fast-tracked.

“We would be going round with them today for them to look at the roads, it’s quite a distance,” Mr. Bebobru added.

He highlighted some of the areas to benefit from the road tarring project to include Golden Souvenir, Abeka Presby church area, Mizpah international school, Abotare, ProCredit area, Fadama among others.

Godwin Allotey Akweiteh/Ghanamps.gov.gh

The Member of Parliament for Bolga East, Mr. Dominic Ayine has said that latest by the end of this month, the Minister of Roads and Highways , Alhaji Amin Amidu Sulemana would be in his constituency to ascertain the road network in the district.

He said the assurances was made following his concerns raised recently on the bad state of its road infrastructure with the Minister, noting that this was a necessary step in the bid to resolve the problem at hand.

In an interaction with Ghanamps.gov.gh, the MP stated that he was expecting some major intervention from government to improve on the road network in the area.

He said road works and construction is capital intensive, thereby requires heavy funding to undertake such projects.

He reiterated that he expects roads like the Agric Junction road and Zuarungu roads to attract maximum attention in fixing it because of the poor nature of such roads in the district to enhance it and boost transportation in those areas.

Jonathan Jeffrey Adjei/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Member of Parliament for Manhyia South, Dr Mathew Opoku Prempeh has charged leadership of the ruling NDC party to call to order their mischief making youth who are spreading baseless rumours about the health status of Nana Akufo Addo.

He said some NDC youth have made the health of the NPP presidential candidate the subject of their discussions on social media and are putting out falsities much to the chagrin of right thinking people.

The two- time presidential hopeful departed Accra for UK on a routine medical check up.

But news of his travel set tongues wagging especially among a section of his opponents in the ruling party with rumours that he was flown out after suffering severe heart attack.

However speaking on Oman Fm on Friday, Hon. Dr. Opoku Prempeh who denied the rumours challenged the NDC leaders to stump their authority on what is going on.

”You see that ever since this mischief started no one has said anything,the BNI and other bodies are waiting for same to be done to President Mahama then they act swiftly, this is unfortunate, he said.”

Hon. Dr Opoku Prempeh noted that he was in constant touch with Nana Akufo Addo and could say on authority that he’s doing well and will return next week as planned.

Kwadwo Anim/Ghanamps.gov.gh