THE Managing Director of Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited (GGBL), Mr Ekwunife Okoli, has expressed the readiness of the company to do business with the Graphic Communication Group Limited (GCGL).
He said that when he led a delegation from the company to pay a business visit to the Graphic Packaging Limited (G-Pak), a subsidiary of the GCGL.
The visit was to enable the officials of GGBL to acquaint themselves with the facilities at G-Pak.
The managing director, who was apparently impressed by the facilities at G-Pak, was accompanied by the Mr Edwin Baffour, the Corporate Relations Manager, and Joanna Kinson, the Head of Procurement.
He said it was the social responsibility of his company to do business with local quality printers who would always be ready to deliver on time.
He said it was also his company’s responsibility to work with world-class suppliers for better services, durability, quality and honesty.
Mr Okoli was of the hope that G-Pak would impress its customers.
For his part, the General Manager of G-Pak, Mr Charles Antwi, assured Mr Okoli of quality services and quick delivery of labels and posters.
He expressed his profound gratitude to the management of GGBL for the visit and added that he looked forward to doing business with GGBL.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Mining
THE Ghana Chamber of Mines has appealed to the government to increase the quantum of royalties returned to mining communities from the current nine per cent to 30 per cent.
The Chief Executive Officer of the chamber, Ms Joyce Aryee, who made the appeal, expressed the hope that the royalties when increased would be tied to providing specific infrastructural projects that would stimulate development in the communities.
At the opening of the 2009 Exhibition and Networking Forum in Accra yesterday, Ms Aryee said the Chamber would continue to push for the integration of the industry into the local economy, champion the attraction of Ghanaian investors into mining and encourage the government to mainstream mining as a catalyst for development.
The three-day forum is being organised by the Ghana Chamber of Mines on the theme, “Mining and sustainable development: Meeting inter-generational challenges".
She said the mining sector in 2008 returned $2.30 billion representing 63 per cent of mineral revenue through the Bank of Ghana and commercial banks in the country.
She added that out of that, six per cent was paid to the government both at the national and district levels in the form of royalties and tax and 10 per cent to the Volta River Authority (VRA) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) for electric power purchases.
She explained further that 13 per cent was also paid to local oil marketing companies for diesel fuel purchases and another four per cent of the mineral revenue was paid as taxes, levies and duties on fuel products to the government.
Ms Aryee said the mining industry had been consciously increasing the quantum of local inputs in its operations for sometime now and added that last year mineral-producing member companies of the chamber procured 47 per cent of inputs and 71 per cent of consumables locally.
She indicated that the promotion of local content in the Chamber’s operations was not just a social responsibility activity, but rather a direct response to Section 105 of the Minerals and Mining Law 2006, Act 703.
The Act states that "The holder of a mineral right shall in the conduct of mineral operations and in the purchase, construction and installation of facilities give preference to materials and products made in Ghana."
The law further states that the holder of a mineral right shall, in phases of its operations, give preference in employment to citizens to the maximum extent possible and consistent with safety and economy.
Ms Aryee emphasised that the Chamber did not condone unregulated mining in the country and would not assist persons engaged in the act.
She stated that the Chamber actively supported regulated and formalised small-scale mining sectors in the country.
She said the Chamber was currently undertaking advocacy on small-scale mining with the view of enhancing the understanding of the needs of the sector and also to inform strategy formulation to resolve challenges of the small-scale miner.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Hannah Tetteh, said the intergenerational challenges facing the mining sector in the country needed to be addressed to ensure sustainable development of the sector.
She said in order to address these challenges there was the need for all stakeholders to help identify and address the challenges facing all operations in the sector.
She also called for the development of a comprehensive local content framework for the mining sector in order to reduce conflicts, tension and dissatisfaction.
The minister encouraged investors to enter into the production of mining implements locally and adhere to the policy of introducing local contents into the industry.
She advised mining industries to set up oil palm and bamboo plantations to replace the lost forest.
The three-day exhibition includes a "buyers and sellers", forum, which is designed to bring together mining companies as buyers of goods and services and local companies as sellers.
The Chief Executive Officer of the chamber, Ms Joyce Aryee, who made the appeal, expressed the hope that the royalties when increased would be tied to providing specific infrastructural projects that would stimulate development in the communities.
At the opening of the 2009 Exhibition and Networking Forum in Accra yesterday, Ms Aryee said the Chamber would continue to push for the integration of the industry into the local economy, champion the attraction of Ghanaian investors into mining and encourage the government to mainstream mining as a catalyst for development.
The three-day forum is being organised by the Ghana Chamber of Mines on the theme, “Mining and sustainable development: Meeting inter-generational challenges".
She said the mining sector in 2008 returned $2.30 billion representing 63 per cent of mineral revenue through the Bank of Ghana and commercial banks in the country.
She added that out of that, six per cent was paid to the government both at the national and district levels in the form of royalties and tax and 10 per cent to the Volta River Authority (VRA) and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) for electric power purchases.
She explained further that 13 per cent was also paid to local oil marketing companies for diesel fuel purchases and another four per cent of the mineral revenue was paid as taxes, levies and duties on fuel products to the government.
Ms Aryee said the mining industry had been consciously increasing the quantum of local inputs in its operations for sometime now and added that last year mineral-producing member companies of the chamber procured 47 per cent of inputs and 71 per cent of consumables locally.
She indicated that the promotion of local content in the Chamber’s operations was not just a social responsibility activity, but rather a direct response to Section 105 of the Minerals and Mining Law 2006, Act 703.
The Act states that "The holder of a mineral right shall in the conduct of mineral operations and in the purchase, construction and installation of facilities give preference to materials and products made in Ghana."
The law further states that the holder of a mineral right shall, in phases of its operations, give preference in employment to citizens to the maximum extent possible and consistent with safety and economy.
Ms Aryee emphasised that the Chamber did not condone unregulated mining in the country and would not assist persons engaged in the act.
She stated that the Chamber actively supported regulated and formalised small-scale mining sectors in the country.
She said the Chamber was currently undertaking advocacy on small-scale mining with the view of enhancing the understanding of the needs of the sector and also to inform strategy formulation to resolve challenges of the small-scale miner.
The Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Hannah Tetteh, said the intergenerational challenges facing the mining sector in the country needed to be addressed to ensure sustainable development of the sector.
She said in order to address these challenges there was the need for all stakeholders to help identify and address the challenges facing all operations in the sector.
She also called for the development of a comprehensive local content framework for the mining sector in order to reduce conflicts, tension and dissatisfaction.
The minister encouraged investors to enter into the production of mining implements locally and adhere to the policy of introducing local contents into the industry.
She advised mining industries to set up oil palm and bamboo plantations to replace the lost forest.
The three-day exhibition includes a "buyers and sellers", forum, which is designed to bring together mining companies as buyers of goods and services and local companies as sellers.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
NYEP
THE 2008 evaluation report of the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP) indicates that participants in the programme receive an average monthly wage of GH¢50, which is lower than the prevailing national minimum wage of GH¢61.
The report also showed significant wage differences by gender, location, education and employment module.
For instance, male participants on the average earned eight per cent higher wages than their female counterparts in the same module.
It also indicated that the average wage for persons working in other administrative regions was significantly lower than persons working in the nation's capital, except those in the Brong Ahafo Region.
This came to light at a policy discussion workshop on youth employment in Ghana and the launch of the evaluation report of the NYEP in Accra last Tuesday.
The report was under the auspices of the Ghana Trades Union Congress Labour Research and Policy Institute, with funding from the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.
Making the presentation, the acting Head of the Labour Research and Policy Institute of the TUC, Mr Kwabena Nyarko Otoo, said persons employed in the community protection, rural education and internship modules earned higher wages, compared with what those in the waste and sanitation management module earned.
He explained that on the average persons employed in the auxiliary nursing and agri-business modules earned lower wages than those in the waste and sanitation management module.
According to the report, participants with higher levels of education were rewarded by the programme.
For example, participants with post-secondary education on the average earned 18 per cent higher wages than participants with no formal education, even when other observable factors were taken into account.
It also stated that participants had no access to benefits such as social security, medical care, sick leave and annual leave.
It further indicated that 64 per cent of participants indicated that the NYEP offered them their first wage employment.
Organisations and institutions using the services of NYEP participants include the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the Ghana Education Service (GES), the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Ministry of Health (MoH).
The rest are the Ghana Police Service, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Zoomlion Company Limited and municipal councils.
Launching the report, the acting Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Rashid Abdul Pelpuo, said the NYEP was an important programme which needed to be supported by Ghanaians.
He said the report would be used by the ministry as a working tool and gave the assurance that the programme would be improved upon and sustained to enable more youth to benefit from it.
The report also showed significant wage differences by gender, location, education and employment module.
For instance, male participants on the average earned eight per cent higher wages than their female counterparts in the same module.
It also indicated that the average wage for persons working in other administrative regions was significantly lower than persons working in the nation's capital, except those in the Brong Ahafo Region.
This came to light at a policy discussion workshop on youth employment in Ghana and the launch of the evaluation report of the NYEP in Accra last Tuesday.
The report was under the auspices of the Ghana Trades Union Congress Labour Research and Policy Institute, with funding from the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung.
Making the presentation, the acting Head of the Labour Research and Policy Institute of the TUC, Mr Kwabena Nyarko Otoo, said persons employed in the community protection, rural education and internship modules earned higher wages, compared with what those in the waste and sanitation management module earned.
He explained that on the average persons employed in the auxiliary nursing and agri-business modules earned lower wages than those in the waste and sanitation management module.
According to the report, participants with higher levels of education were rewarded by the programme.
For example, participants with post-secondary education on the average earned 18 per cent higher wages than participants with no formal education, even when other observable factors were taken into account.
It also stated that participants had no access to benefits such as social security, medical care, sick leave and annual leave.
It further indicated that 64 per cent of participants indicated that the NYEP offered them their first wage employment.
Organisations and institutions using the services of NYEP participants include the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the Ghana Education Service (GES), the Ghana Health Service (GHS) and the Ministry of Health (MoH).
The rest are the Ghana Police Service, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Zoomlion Company Limited and municipal councils.
Launching the report, the acting Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr Rashid Abdul Pelpuo, said the NYEP was an important programme which needed to be supported by Ghanaians.
He said the report would be used by the ministry as a working tool and gave the assurance that the programme would be improved upon and sustained to enable more youth to benefit from it.
Fishermen
FISHERMEN along the coast of Accra are making big catches but lack of pre-mix fuel and inadequate canoes are hampering their efforts to achieve bumper harvest this season.
Last June, the fishermen along the coast predicted bumper harvests this season and underscored the need for the authorities to address their logistic challenges.
And the signals along some fishing communities on the coast, picked by the Daily Graphic point to the realisation of that prediction as most of the fishermen are making good harvest ahead of the peak season in August-September.
Within the fishing communities of Osu Aborm, Alata, Mensah Guinea and James Town fishermen are making catches far exceeding what the fish mongers could patronise.
Some of the fishermen however said although the sings were there for a bumper catch, they were unable to take advantage of it because of the absence of enough logistics including pre-mix fuel and canoes.
The fishermen also complained about the activities of pair trawlers, saying they posed a threat to their occupation and lives.
They also complained about the use of light by some fishermen which normally disturbed their activities.
Because of the acute nature of the pre-mix situation some of the fisherman at Osu have abandoned their canoes while their counterparts at Mensah Guinea and James Town have resorted to running shifts with the few canoes they have at hand.
“Today (Thursday) is a busy fishing day but unfortunately only four canoes from Osu have gone fishing. This is because we have no fuel in our canoes. The situation is so disturbing and we don’t know what to do”, Teeto Lee, a fisherman at Osu lamented.
The Chief fisherman at Osu, Nii Gyamlogya also said “I have searched the whole of Osu for pre-mix fuel but I did not get any to buy”.
“The situation is so alarming and if immediate steps are not taken, things will get out of hand”, he added.
“There are a lot of fishes in the sea and sometimes we even get tired of catching them but lack of fuel and its high price is really affecting us, Togbo Annan the Chief Linguist added to the general lamentation.
According to them, one canoe needed as much as 16 gallons of fuel for just one trip.
At Mensah Guinea and James Town the fishermen had resorted to the laborious use of hand paddles to power their canoes because they could not get the need fuel for the use of outboard motors.
The fishermen said apart from sapping their energy, the use of paddles endangered their lives at sea, especially when they encountered high tidal waves.
Interestingly, out of about 50 fishermen at Mensah Guinea, only five had canoes of their own.
Most of them could not afford the high prices of the canoes, which costs GH¢5,630.
Normally, the fishermen went fishing for a week or at least four days but those who could not wait for their friends to return had to either join them or wait patiently for their turn.
“We all have families to cater for so the situation becomes very difficult for us especially when you do not have a canoe to use” , Amassah Kottey a fisherman said.
“Fishing is our life and so if you do not have a canoe to work with then life becomes so unbearable”, one fisherman said almost in tears.
They called on the government to help solve the problem.
Last June, the fishermen along the coast predicted bumper harvests this season and underscored the need for the authorities to address their logistic challenges.
And the signals along some fishing communities on the coast, picked by the Daily Graphic point to the realisation of that prediction as most of the fishermen are making good harvest ahead of the peak season in August-September.
Within the fishing communities of Osu Aborm, Alata, Mensah Guinea and James Town fishermen are making catches far exceeding what the fish mongers could patronise.
Some of the fishermen however said although the sings were there for a bumper catch, they were unable to take advantage of it because of the absence of enough logistics including pre-mix fuel and canoes.
The fishermen also complained about the activities of pair trawlers, saying they posed a threat to their occupation and lives.
They also complained about the use of light by some fishermen which normally disturbed their activities.
Because of the acute nature of the pre-mix situation some of the fisherman at Osu have abandoned their canoes while their counterparts at Mensah Guinea and James Town have resorted to running shifts with the few canoes they have at hand.
“Today (Thursday) is a busy fishing day but unfortunately only four canoes from Osu have gone fishing. This is because we have no fuel in our canoes. The situation is so disturbing and we don’t know what to do”, Teeto Lee, a fisherman at Osu lamented.
The Chief fisherman at Osu, Nii Gyamlogya also said “I have searched the whole of Osu for pre-mix fuel but I did not get any to buy”.
“The situation is so alarming and if immediate steps are not taken, things will get out of hand”, he added.
“There are a lot of fishes in the sea and sometimes we even get tired of catching them but lack of fuel and its high price is really affecting us, Togbo Annan the Chief Linguist added to the general lamentation.
According to them, one canoe needed as much as 16 gallons of fuel for just one trip.
At Mensah Guinea and James Town the fishermen had resorted to the laborious use of hand paddles to power their canoes because they could not get the need fuel for the use of outboard motors.
The fishermen said apart from sapping their energy, the use of paddles endangered their lives at sea, especially when they encountered high tidal waves.
Interestingly, out of about 50 fishermen at Mensah Guinea, only five had canoes of their own.
Most of them could not afford the high prices of the canoes, which costs GH¢5,630.
Normally, the fishermen went fishing for a week or at least four days but those who could not wait for their friends to return had to either join them or wait patiently for their turn.
“We all have families to cater for so the situation becomes very difficult for us especially when you do not have a canoe to use” , Amassah Kottey a fisherman said.
“Fishing is our life and so if you do not have a canoe to work with then life becomes so unbearable”, one fisherman said almost in tears.
They called on the government to help solve the problem.
(Ga Mantse advises youth against over-indulgence in alcohol)
The Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Tawiah III, has advised the youth to drink responsibly especially during the celebration of this year’s Homowo festival.
He said the excessive intake of alcohol could be harmful to their health and the development of their future.
The Ga Mantse gave the advice when the management of Accra Brewery Limited (ABL) presented 60 cartons of assorted drinks produced by their company and an undisclosed amount of money to the Ga Traditional Council for the celebration of this year’s Homowo festival.
The items were received on behalf of the Ga Mantse by Nii Okaija III at the Mantse’s palace at North Kaneshie in Accra yesterday.
He advised the youth to drink quality beverages and commended ABL for producing quality drinks.
Presenting the items, the Managing Director of ABL, Mr Greg Metcalf, said the donation was in fulfilment of the company’s pledge to support the Ga Traditional Council to organise a successful festival this year.
He wished the Ga Traditional Council a successful celebration and expressed his hope that the items would be of great benefit to them.
The Gbese Mantse, Nii Okaija III, who received the items on behalf of the Ga Mantse expressed his appreciation to the ABL and called on other organisations to emulate the gesture.
He said the excessive intake of alcohol could be harmful to their health and the development of their future.
The Ga Mantse gave the advice when the management of Accra Brewery Limited (ABL) presented 60 cartons of assorted drinks produced by their company and an undisclosed amount of money to the Ga Traditional Council for the celebration of this year’s Homowo festival.
The items were received on behalf of the Ga Mantse by Nii Okaija III at the Mantse’s palace at North Kaneshie in Accra yesterday.
He advised the youth to drink quality beverages and commended ABL for producing quality drinks.
Presenting the items, the Managing Director of ABL, Mr Greg Metcalf, said the donation was in fulfilment of the company’s pledge to support the Ga Traditional Council to organise a successful festival this year.
He wished the Ga Traditional Council a successful celebration and expressed his hope that the items would be of great benefit to them.
The Gbese Mantse, Nii Okaija III, who received the items on behalf of the Ga Mantse expressed his appreciation to the ABL and called on other organisations to emulate the gesture.
Accra Metro Roads Begins Desilting Drains
The Accra Metro Road Department has begun desilting drainage systems on the Kaneshie Mallam Road and the Obetsebi-Lamptey roundabout as part of efforts to prevent the perennial floods in the area.
The exercise is also to allow the free flow of water through the drains that are usually choked with filth anytime it rained.
The Kaneshie First Light and the Obetsebe-Lamptey-Kaneshie Odorkor road is always rendered unmotorable anytime it rains.
This is because some unscrupulous persons have removed the iron gratings that covered the drainage system on the roads which allowed foreign materials to choke the gutters.
An official of the Accra Metro Road Department explained to the Daily Graphic last Thursday that the iron gratings served as a sieve or filter which prevented silt and garbage from entering the drains.
He cautioned the general public particularly residents of Kaneshie to be vigilant and report persons who steal the iron gratings to the appropriate authorities.
He also appealed to them to co-operate with the department during the exercise.
Picture: Some workers of the Accra Metro Department desilting the drains during the exercise.
The exercise is also to allow the free flow of water through the drains that are usually choked with filth anytime it rained.
The Kaneshie First Light and the Obetsebe-Lamptey-Kaneshie Odorkor road is always rendered unmotorable anytime it rains.
This is because some unscrupulous persons have removed the iron gratings that covered the drainage system on the roads which allowed foreign materials to choke the gutters.
An official of the Accra Metro Road Department explained to the Daily Graphic last Thursday that the iron gratings served as a sieve or filter which prevented silt and garbage from entering the drains.
He cautioned the general public particularly residents of Kaneshie to be vigilant and report persons who steal the iron gratings to the appropriate authorities.
He also appealed to them to co-operate with the department during the exercise.
Picture: Some workers of the Accra Metro Department desilting the drains during the exercise.
Legon receives Chinese language textbooks
Story: Leticia Ohene-Asiedu & Martha Asantewaa Boateng
THE Chinese Embassy has presented 2,000 Chinese textbooks and reading materials to the University of Ghana, Legon.
Making the presentation, the acting Chinese Charge d’Affairs, Mr Wang Lushan, said the books were to assist Ghanaian students studying the Chinese language at the university.
The items included reading books in English and Chinese, video tapes and DVDs.
He explained that currently 30 Ghanaian students had completed their training programme in Chinese, adding that last year four students from the University of Ghana were given scholarships by the Chinese Embassy to study in China.
He said the embassy had provided the University of Ghana with two instructors and four volunteers to help teach the language.
He said four volunteers had also been sent to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology to teach the language.
Mr Lushan said a degree course would begin in August this year for beginners.
He was of the hope that the materials would enhance their studies.
Receiving the materials, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ghana, Professor E.K. Osam, expressed the hope that the university would become a centre where students from the West African sub-region would come to learn the Chinese language.
THE Chinese Embassy has presented 2,000 Chinese textbooks and reading materials to the University of Ghana, Legon.
Making the presentation, the acting Chinese Charge d’Affairs, Mr Wang Lushan, said the books were to assist Ghanaian students studying the Chinese language at the university.
The items included reading books in English and Chinese, video tapes and DVDs.
He explained that currently 30 Ghanaian students had completed their training programme in Chinese, adding that last year four students from the University of Ghana were given scholarships by the Chinese Embassy to study in China.
He said the embassy had provided the University of Ghana with two instructors and four volunteers to help teach the language.
He said four volunteers had also been sent to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology to teach the language.
Mr Lushan said a degree course would begin in August this year for beginners.
He was of the hope that the materials would enhance their studies.
Receiving the materials, the Dean of the Faculty of Arts at the University of Ghana, Professor E.K. Osam, expressed the hope that the university would become a centre where students from the West African sub-region would come to learn the Chinese language.
VRA
THE Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Ms Akua Sena Dansua, has called on women to develop strategies to conserve energy and protect the environment from depletion and pollution.
She said majority of the country’s population were women who lived in the rural areas where activities such as deforestation, bush burning and farming were common.
Ms Dansua made the call in an address at the 10th anniversary of the Volta River Authority (VRA) Ladies Association in Accra yesterday.
The theme for the occasion was, “Energy conservation — the role of the woman”.
She said if women were educated on the effects of their activities on the environment then they would be ready to take remedial measures such as reforestation, reducing charcoal burning and monitoring the use of energy at home and in public.
She said it was appropriate to educate women on the productive use of electricity to assist income generation and improve energy technologies.
Ms Dansua said the association provided a platform for women to effectively discuss critical matters that related to the empowerment of women and children.
She said issues on child prostitution, girls’ reproductive health and human and child trafficking had become very topical, adding, “We need to go back to the basics of responsible parenting if we are to prevent some of these problems.”
She said advocacy on responsible parenting should be vigorously pursued, especially now that daily reports pointed to lack of parental supervision and responsibility in homes.
The Deputy Chief Executive of the VRA, Ms Alexander Totoe, said Ghanaian women were the primary consumers of domestic energy and the primary suppliers in the rural setting, often in the form of biofuels such as firewood and agricultural residue.
She indicated that surveys conducted around the world showed that women generally were concerned about the effects of air pollution on health and its impact on the health of their children.
She said women had a tremendous opportunity to help solve the defining issue and, therefore, called on them to cultivate the habit of conserving energy.
The President of the association, Mrs Tandy Chothia, also said the objective of the association was to unite all female employees of the authority and provide a free medium for communicating views on matters affecting their welfare and interests to management.
She commended the association for adopting a children’s ward at the government hospital in Akuse and also taking responsibility for the payment of the fees for some girls at the Mpakadan L/A primary School in Akosombo and other schools in the resettlement areas.
She said majority of the country’s population were women who lived in the rural areas where activities such as deforestation, bush burning and farming were common.
Ms Dansua made the call in an address at the 10th anniversary of the Volta River Authority (VRA) Ladies Association in Accra yesterday.
The theme for the occasion was, “Energy conservation — the role of the woman”.
She said if women were educated on the effects of their activities on the environment then they would be ready to take remedial measures such as reforestation, reducing charcoal burning and monitoring the use of energy at home and in public.
She said it was appropriate to educate women on the productive use of electricity to assist income generation and improve energy technologies.
Ms Dansua said the association provided a platform for women to effectively discuss critical matters that related to the empowerment of women and children.
She said issues on child prostitution, girls’ reproductive health and human and child trafficking had become very topical, adding, “We need to go back to the basics of responsible parenting if we are to prevent some of these problems.”
She said advocacy on responsible parenting should be vigorously pursued, especially now that daily reports pointed to lack of parental supervision and responsibility in homes.
The Deputy Chief Executive of the VRA, Ms Alexander Totoe, said Ghanaian women were the primary consumers of domestic energy and the primary suppliers in the rural setting, often in the form of biofuels such as firewood and agricultural residue.
She indicated that surveys conducted around the world showed that women generally were concerned about the effects of air pollution on health and its impact on the health of their children.
She said women had a tremendous opportunity to help solve the defining issue and, therefore, called on them to cultivate the habit of conserving energy.
The President of the association, Mrs Tandy Chothia, also said the objective of the association was to unite all female employees of the authority and provide a free medium for communicating views on matters affecting their welfare and interests to management.
She commended the association for adopting a children’s ward at the government hospital in Akuse and also taking responsibility for the payment of the fees for some girls at the Mpakadan L/A primary School in Akosombo and other schools in the resettlement areas.
Stratcomm ‘Read and Write’ programme ends
The Chief Executive Officer of Strategic Communications Africa Limited (Stratcomm), Ms Esther Cobbah, has urged parents and teachers to encourage pupils to cultivate the habit of reading and writing to enable them to develop strong communication skills.
She said the ability of pupils to gain mastery in reading and writing was to help them to excel in their educational endeavours.
Ms Cobbah was speaking at the closing ceremony of the read and write programme organised by Stratcomm for the Kanda Cluster of Schools.
The programme was held to contribute to the reading, writing and communication skills of Junior High School (JHS) students.
The four-week programme, dubbed “Read better, write better and communicate better”, formed part of the year’s activities to commemorate Stratcomm Africa’s 15th anniversary.
The programme, which fell under the company’s corporate social responsibility programme, was part of the organisation’s efforts to raise the bar in communications, both in Ghana and on the African continent.
She said the ability to read and write was relevant to the world of academics and the working world, which the students would enter after school.
Ms Cobbah said reading and writing were important for fostering understanding through information sharing and stressed the need for Ghanaians to possess a literate populace as this would help the country develop and ease the task of disseminating official information related to national policies.
She assured the schoolchildren and parents that the first phase of the exercise would be evaluated and the feedback would be used to design and implement a second phase.
The Circuit Supervisor, Ms Victoria Dwamena, appealed for a library and advised the students to make good use of what they had learnt.
Some of the students who participated in the reading and writing exercise shared their experiences, affirming the impact it had on them and their eagerness for another session of the programme.
Prizes and certificates were awarded to each school for participating in the programme.
She said the ability of pupils to gain mastery in reading and writing was to help them to excel in their educational endeavours.
Ms Cobbah was speaking at the closing ceremony of the read and write programme organised by Stratcomm for the Kanda Cluster of Schools.
The programme was held to contribute to the reading, writing and communication skills of Junior High School (JHS) students.
The four-week programme, dubbed “Read better, write better and communicate better”, formed part of the year’s activities to commemorate Stratcomm Africa’s 15th anniversary.
The programme, which fell under the company’s corporate social responsibility programme, was part of the organisation’s efforts to raise the bar in communications, both in Ghana and on the African continent.
She said the ability to read and write was relevant to the world of academics and the working world, which the students would enter after school.
Ms Cobbah said reading and writing were important for fostering understanding through information sharing and stressed the need for Ghanaians to possess a literate populace as this would help the country develop and ease the task of disseminating official information related to national policies.
She assured the schoolchildren and parents that the first phase of the exercise would be evaluated and the feedback would be used to design and implement a second phase.
The Circuit Supervisor, Ms Victoria Dwamena, appealed for a library and advised the students to make good use of what they had learnt.
Some of the students who participated in the reading and writing exercise shared their experiences, affirming the impact it had on them and their eagerness for another session of the programme.
Prizes and certificates were awarded to each school for participating in the programme.
HFC Bank opens Post Office Branch
Story: Jennifer Dornoo & Leticia Ohene-Asiedu
THE HFC Bank Ghana Ltd has opened its 19th branch at the Post Office Square in Accra with a promise to provide customers with the bank’s best and unique array of widely diversified universal banking services.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony at Post Office Square yesterday, the Executive Director of the bank, Mr Akwete Akita said it had always been the bank’s desire to get closer to its customers in order to increase its delivery channel and enhance the convenience of customers.
He said the banks financial services which made them distinguished in the banking industry ranged from traditional commercial banking through mortgage banking, investment banking, real estate services to microfinance banking.
He said the bank would provide a one-stop shop financial services solutions for its numerous customers around the post office square and its neighbouring communities.
A new microfinance service known as the Boafo microfinance services was also introduced to meet the needs of all clients within the community.
The Managing Director of the Boafo Microfinance Services, Dr Joseph K. Adjei said the HFC-Boafo was a subsidairy of the HFC Bank and explained that it was the microfinace arm of the bank which was established to implement and manage the bank's retail micro-finance loan portfolio.
He said the mission of the HFC-Boafo was to service the credit demands of low and moderate income Ghanaian households to maximise their options in their pursuit of shelter, business, education and other opportunities.
He enjoined all businesses and individulas in and around the Post Office Square to come and experience the banks unique services.
THE HFC Bank Ghana Ltd has opened its 19th branch at the Post Office Square in Accra with a promise to provide customers with the bank’s best and unique array of widely diversified universal banking services.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony at Post Office Square yesterday, the Executive Director of the bank, Mr Akwete Akita said it had always been the bank’s desire to get closer to its customers in order to increase its delivery channel and enhance the convenience of customers.
He said the banks financial services which made them distinguished in the banking industry ranged from traditional commercial banking through mortgage banking, investment banking, real estate services to microfinance banking.
He said the bank would provide a one-stop shop financial services solutions for its numerous customers around the post office square and its neighbouring communities.
A new microfinance service known as the Boafo microfinance services was also introduced to meet the needs of all clients within the community.
The Managing Director of the Boafo Microfinance Services, Dr Joseph K. Adjei said the HFC-Boafo was a subsidairy of the HFC Bank and explained that it was the microfinace arm of the bank which was established to implement and manage the bank's retail micro-finance loan portfolio.
He said the mission of the HFC-Boafo was to service the credit demands of low and moderate income Ghanaian households to maximise their options in their pursuit of shelter, business, education and other opportunities.
He enjoined all businesses and individulas in and around the Post Office Square to come and experience the banks unique services.
Fish
IMPORTERS of fish into the country have maintained that if local fishermen are supported and encouraged to produce adequate fish to meet local demand, there was no need for fish to be imported.
They also mentioned packaging as a key element to consider in the desire to create demand for local fish.
In separate interviews in Accra this week, the fish importers were unanimous that they had resorted to importing fish to supplement national dietary requirement because local fishermen were unable to meet their demands.
Visits to cold stores in Accra by the Daily Graphic also revealed that even the imported fish was in short supply, causing a sharp decline of many cold store businesses.
The fish importers said they had observed that consumers preferred imported fish to local fish because the former was better in terms of packaging, convenience and availability.
Unlike the local fishes which are mostly sold in pans by the roadside and at very expensive prices, the imported ones are mostly packaged in cartons and less expensive.
Whereas 20kg of imported fish (one carton) costs GH¢82, the local fishermen sell a small size of redfish for GH¢4 and one cassava fish for GH¢10.
“We are ready to buy from whoever is ready to sell to us but the problem is that our local fishermen are not ready for competition”, Mr Kennedy Owusu, Sales Manager of Francopat Coldstore, said.
He said most fish consumers preferred assorted fishes to herrings and salmon, which were mostly caught by local fishermen.
“Herrings is no business to the coldstore operator but the local trader”, he added.
He also explained that most fish consumers were mostly attracted by the packaging and handling of the fish by fish sellers.
Mr Owusu said if the local fishermen were prepared to repackage themselves to meet the demand on the market then fish importers and consumers were ready to buy from them.
“Currently we have no fish to sell but as a business man I cannot spend the whole day at the sea waiting for a fisherman to return with fish for me to buy. It is because of the convenience that is why we buy the imported ones; it is already packaged, easy to carry and comes in very large quantities”, he said.
An official at the Beyeeman Freezing Company Limited also said most fish importers preferred imported fish because it was less expensive as compared to local fish.
Some fish sellers at the Kaneshie Market expressed concern about the shortage of imported fish, explaining that the shortage had caused a decline in their daily sales.
They also mentioned packaging as a key element to consider in the desire to create demand for local fish.
In separate interviews in Accra this week, the fish importers were unanimous that they had resorted to importing fish to supplement national dietary requirement because local fishermen were unable to meet their demands.
Visits to cold stores in Accra by the Daily Graphic also revealed that even the imported fish was in short supply, causing a sharp decline of many cold store businesses.
The fish importers said they had observed that consumers preferred imported fish to local fish because the former was better in terms of packaging, convenience and availability.
Unlike the local fishes which are mostly sold in pans by the roadside and at very expensive prices, the imported ones are mostly packaged in cartons and less expensive.
Whereas 20kg of imported fish (one carton) costs GH¢82, the local fishermen sell a small size of redfish for GH¢4 and one cassava fish for GH¢10.
“We are ready to buy from whoever is ready to sell to us but the problem is that our local fishermen are not ready for competition”, Mr Kennedy Owusu, Sales Manager of Francopat Coldstore, said.
He said most fish consumers preferred assorted fishes to herrings and salmon, which were mostly caught by local fishermen.
“Herrings is no business to the coldstore operator but the local trader”, he added.
He also explained that most fish consumers were mostly attracted by the packaging and handling of the fish by fish sellers.
Mr Owusu said if the local fishermen were prepared to repackage themselves to meet the demand on the market then fish importers and consumers were ready to buy from them.
“Currently we have no fish to sell but as a business man I cannot spend the whole day at the sea waiting for a fisherman to return with fish for me to buy. It is because of the convenience that is why we buy the imported ones; it is already packaged, easy to carry and comes in very large quantities”, he said.
An official at the Beyeeman Freezing Company Limited also said most fish importers preferred imported fish because it was less expensive as compared to local fish.
Some fish sellers at the Kaneshie Market expressed concern about the shortage of imported fish, explaining that the shortage had caused a decline in their daily sales.
Rain rips off roof of Tettegu primary school.
Pupils of the Tettegu D/A 1 primary school at Ogblogo, Weija have been compelled to study in classrooms without roofs over their heads.
The reason: a heavy downpour which occurred in Accra last June ripped off the roof of the school but efforts are yet to be made to restore roofing.
In the circumstance, the school has been pushed against the wall to resume academic work to prevent loss of precious academic time.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra on Tuesday, the Headmaster, Mr S.T. Ablade, said the situation had affected academic work in the school, adding that the situation had caused a decline in the enrolment and attendance of both pupils and teachers.
He explained that pupils in the unroofed classrooms either had to relocate to other classrooms or end lessons for the day whenever it rained.
Mr Ablade also expressed his dissatisfaction at the manner in which residents had turned the classrooms into places of convenience and a refuse dump because the classrooms had no doors and windows.
He said part of the roofs were ripped off in 2004 after a heavy downpour but unfortunately the school’s PTA did not have adequate resources to renovate it.
He said as a result of the deplorable situation teachers had refused posting to the school.
He said the school had also been turned into a playground for residents because it was not fenced and added that “some boys in the neighbourhood have turned our school park into a football park and they come here to play football whenever they want”.
“Whenever they come here to play football the pupils do not pay attention in class but rather concentrate on what is being done outside.”
Mr Ablade appealed to the government and the general public to support the school with the needed facilities to enhance academic work.
*Caption: The classroom block with the roofs ripped-off.
The reason: a heavy downpour which occurred in Accra last June ripped off the roof of the school but efforts are yet to be made to restore roofing.
In the circumstance, the school has been pushed against the wall to resume academic work to prevent loss of precious academic time.
In an interview with the Daily Graphic in Accra on Tuesday, the Headmaster, Mr S.T. Ablade, said the situation had affected academic work in the school, adding that the situation had caused a decline in the enrolment and attendance of both pupils and teachers.
He explained that pupils in the unroofed classrooms either had to relocate to other classrooms or end lessons for the day whenever it rained.
Mr Ablade also expressed his dissatisfaction at the manner in which residents had turned the classrooms into places of convenience and a refuse dump because the classrooms had no doors and windows.
He said part of the roofs were ripped off in 2004 after a heavy downpour but unfortunately the school’s PTA did not have adequate resources to renovate it.
He said as a result of the deplorable situation teachers had refused posting to the school.
He said the school had also been turned into a playground for residents because it was not fenced and added that “some boys in the neighbourhood have turned our school park into a football park and they come here to play football whenever they want”.
“Whenever they come here to play football the pupils do not pay attention in class but rather concentrate on what is being done outside.”
Mr Ablade appealed to the government and the general public to support the school with the needed facilities to enhance academic work.
*Caption: The classroom block with the roofs ripped-off.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)