Month: August 2014

A one-day workshop has been organised for stakeholders in the catchment areas of the Weija Dam on how to keep and preserve the Densu River, which serves as a major water source for some parts of Accra and the Central Region.

The workshop, which was under the auspices of the Water Resources Commission to tackle issues associated with water quality monitoring and surveillance, was held at the Miklin Hotel yesterday in Accra. The timely call for the workshop was a result of the alarming rate of urbanization, human settlements, and illegal activities near and around the water body, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo said.

Mr. Afotey Agbo was of the concern that lack of access to clean water and sanitation systems were public health issues that must be dealt with, especially, in the urban centres. He said even though the government had the responsibility to supply water, and also increase the coverage of drinking water supply to every part of the country, it was also necessary that the citizens and assemblies protect it.

“However, if we increase the coverage of water supply, and allow the quality of it to be compromised as a result of our own actions and inaction, especially, within the catchment areas of our water sources, we would be addressing nothing in effect,” he warned. He said the ministry had noted the importance of urbanization and the challenges associated with it, and had, therefore, embarked on soliciting views on how to balance human settlements, population growth and human activities around the river basin, without damaging water quality.

The Regional Minister said he was happy that the workshop had brought major stakeholders within the catchment areas of the dam to brainstorm on how best to deal and safeguard the country’s water resources to improve the health of the people. “It is in this vein, that I consider this workshop very important in our efforts to confront the challenges associated with the protection and provision of quality water for the citizenry,” he added.

The Water Resources Commission being eager to protect water sources in the country, proposed to the Minister the relocation of toll booth at Tuba in the Ga South Municipality, since activities around it were polluting the dam.

Mr. Kwadwo Baah Agyemang, Member of Parliament for Asante Akim North has expressed gratitude to God for the spirit of tolerance among Ghanaian where freedom of worship is recognized and enjoyed in peace and harmony.

Mr. Agyemang who expressed his sentiment when he joined Muslim at Agogo in his constituency to pray in connection with the Eld-Ul-fit celebrations congratulated them for successfully going through the Ramadan praying forgiveness, mercies and protection not only for themselves but also for the nation.

Speaking with Ghanamps.gov.gh, he urged them that, in spite of the political, tribal and religious differences, we all must recognized the commonality of our origin as Ghanaians and must do everything to ensure that there is one Ghana. What is more important is the welfare of Ghana, its unity, peace and oneness.

Mr. Agyemang donated 10 bags of rice and 10 carton of Malta Guinness to all the Muslim communities in the Asante Akim North constituency.

Afia Yeboah/Ghanamps.gov.gh

Despite the unambiguous judgment delivered by the Supreme Court that the controversial financier of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr. Alfred Agbesi Woyome, obtained the much publicized GH¢51 million from the state without any legal basis and that he does not deserve the money, the former Deputy Attorney General, Ebo Barton Odro still insists the state had no case to defend, when the business man sued.

Barton Odro, currently First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, was quoted as saying on a local radio station in Cape Coast, after the Supreme Court ruling: “I still stand by what I said that the state had a bad case.”

Based on this statement, the Communications team of the New Patriotic Party(NPP) in the Central Region is arguing that the Cape Coast North MP fully supported the payment of the dubious money to Mr. Woyome.

They are, therefore, demanding the immediate resignation of Mr. Ebo Barton Oduro, as both MP and First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, over what they described as ‘loose talk.’

Addressing a news conference in Cape Coast yesterday, the spokesman for the communication team, David Apinyah Ato Sam, stated that the action of the MP had brought shame and disgrace to the constituents.

He quoted the Administration ACT 2003 (act 654), which states: “Each officer or person acting in an office or employment connected with the collection, management or disbursement of public or trust of money with the control of government stores who conspires with another to defraud the government, or makes an opportunity for another person to defraud the state, commits an offense and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding 5,000 penalty units, or imprisonment of a term of not exceeding 10 years, or to both.”

To Ato Sam and his team, Barton Odro has breached the Act and must resign honourably from office. They also want President Mahama to direct his Minister of Justice and Attorney General to start prosecuting Mr. Ebo Barton Odro to serve as a deterrent to other appointees in his government.

The group added that, the time to restore dignity, honor and respect to the public service is now, and Mr. Ebo Barton-Odro must lead the way.

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The Chronicle Newspaper

The Assin North Member of Parliament, Samuel Ambre has lauded contributions of community-based health planning service (CHPS) compounds in deprived communities across the country.

Mr. Ambre who said, but for the introduction of the CHPS compound concept in Ghana, a lot of communities would have been faced with serious difficulties in accessing health delivery. He therefore shared in the wisdom of the government in trying to pool resources from ministers and government officials so as to build more of the CHPS compounds in communities that lack the facility.

This notwithstanding, the MP said contributions from MPs and investments from the MMDAs in this regard is also proving to be worth it. According to him, the CHPS compounds serve not only as treatment minor ailments but also as first aid points for more difficult health cases before transfer to major hospitals where patients can access advanced treatments. More importantly, the CHPS compounds are vital to efforts at reducing maternal and infant mortality nationwide.

The MP who is currently building two pavilions for two CHPS compound at Assin Bediadua and Assin Ayittey said he is impressed by the services being rendered the people adding that the provision of the pavilion was meant to provide comfortable place for the increasing patient population at the facilities.

He is also impressed that just few communities in his constituency are yet to be provided with CHPS compounds and was hopeful the his outfit can collaborate with the district assembly to serve those communities as well.

Dominic Shirimori/Ghanamps.gov.gh

A former Finance Minister under the erstwhile Kufuor administration, Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei is asking Ghanaians to brace themselves for more hardship as the country seeks a bailout from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

According to the ranking Member of Parliament’s Finance committee, Ghanaians should expect job losses and hikes in utility tariffs which will be compounded by general increments in the prices goods and services.

Government has announced it will seek financial aid from the IMF to help strengthen the country’s currency.

Ghana’s economy has been declining with the cedi rapidly depreciating by 27% against major trading currencies since the beginning of 2014.

The Ghana cedi has been ranked as one of the worst performing currencies in the world.

The country is also grappling with high inflation rates, increased tariffs, and high cost of petroleum prices due to the removal of fuel subsidies by the government.

These existing socio-economic hardships have forced various labour organizations to demonstrate against the government for failing to resolve the challenges.

Many of the nation’s opposition parties have also chastised the government for its ineffective economic policies and poor management of economy.

But the President, John Mahama has continuously been assuring citizens that the difficulties will soon be over.

The old Tafo lawmaker however believes the bailout from the IMF will improve investor confidence because “they will see that somebody is helping us see discipline.”

He however added that more hardships will be experienced between now and 2017.

“I think that we should be ready for things to be tough,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, the head of the Political Committee of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Ekow Duncan told Citi News, the move is not in the best interest of the country.

“The IMF bailout is not appropriate,” he said, adding that government should rather focus on home-grown strategies.

“Go for home-grown stabilization measures because if you borrow from the IMF in dollars, it is a very precarious situation.”

According to him, it is evident that the government is not serious about seeking an IMF bailout, “and I don’t expect that to happen but they don’t want a backlash so they might do it.”

The IMF has been critical of the level of subsidies and taxes in Ghana.

Questions have been raised as to whether an IMF programme will result in more taxes and higher petroleum and utility prices.

Economist, Dr John Gatsi indicates this will depend on the orientation of representatives negotiating for Ghana.

He explained that Ghana will present a set of strategies and projects to the IMF which will subsequently be studied by the IMF and inputs will be made.

“It is not the place of the IMF to indicate that without this particular one I will not come in,” he clarified, adding that the IMF “may select and choose but the underlining and driving force… is about partnership.”

Dr. Gatsi mentioned that Ghana has future financial and economic prospects “and so it is in this line that going into the IMF now is more flexible now than the days that we were only takers at the negotiating table.”

He urged Ghanaians not to worry over the possible hardship but rather, the team which will negotiate on behalf of Ghana.

“What is their orientation? If their orientation is towards the upfront removal of subsidies…so we should rather check on those who will be representatives of Ghana in discussing the issues of subsidies,” he cautioned.

citifmonline.com