THE Rural Project Support Network, a local non-governmental organisation (NGO) at Abokobi in the Ga East Municipality, in conjunction with the municipal assembly has rescued 56 children, including adults, from selling on the streets and engaging in stone quarrying under an exercise which began two years ago.
One of the 56 rescued, who is now 19 years old, completed a junior high school at Pantang just last academic year, while the rest, aged between five and 19, are currently in various stages of their basic level of education.
Madam Felicia Sosu Lartey, Executive Director of Rural Project Support Network, who disclosed this to the Daily Graphic in an interview, said some communities near Abokobi, namely Boi, Oyarifa, Adjoko, Seseli and Abooman bemoaned the 19-year-old boy’s depths of despair, resulting in banning the use of children of school age in stone quarrying in the area.
She said estate developers had unfortunately resorted to using children, some as young as five years old, as a source of cheap labour in their construction business in order to maximise profits.
She said some of the parents of such children who suffered such exploitation were poor, while some of the children themselves were orphans, stressing that the plight of the children had encouraged the organisation to move to their rescue with the support of the Ga East Municipal Assembly.
Madam Lartey pointed out that efforts by the NGO to reunite the children with their families had not been successful, since some of the parents had pleaded with the NGO to adopt their children because, for economic reasons, they could not look after them any longer.
She said the NGO and the Ga East Municipal Assembly had recently held a meeting to find ways of supporting children who migrated from rural communities to the municipality in search of greener pastures, which was rather non-existent.
She said apart from the 56, another 46 adults had been selected for skills training in such income-generating ventures as soap-making, bakery, groundnut oil extraction and bee-keeping to keep them away from prostitution and other social vices.
Madam Lartey said recently the NGO, in collaboration with Ghana Network of Reflect Practitioners on Children Rights (PAMOJA), Right and Voice Initiative (RAVI), Ghana AIDS Commission and the Pantang Hospital, organised an HIV and AIDS counselling and testing programme in 12 communities in the Ga East Municipality.
The Executive Director of Rural Support Network said out of 1,147 people who were tested, 17 tested positive, explaining that the disease was real and the network had launched an educational programme to deal with the HIV menace and other issues such as child labour and prostitution.
She, therefore, appealed to the NGOs engaged in similar projects to pool resources to assist the Ga East Municipality in its fight against these social vices.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
C'TTEE ON VODAFONE PRESENTS REPORT (PAGE 3)
THE Inter-Ministerial Review Committee on the Vodafone Transaction yesterday presented its report to the Minister of Communications, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, in Accra.
Presenting the report, the Chairman of the committee, Mr Justice Akwei Addo, said the committee examined all facts under its terms of reference before coming up with its report with an appendix attached.
“Without much ado, we would like to present the report and the appendix to the minister,” Mr Justice Addo said.
Receiving the report, Mr Iddrisu noted that he was unable to comment on any of the recommendations, since the report had just been presented to him.
He, however, reiterated the Government’s commitment to open and transparent administration and explained that any decision taken by the Government based on the recommendations of the committee would be made known to the public.
He said the Government was aware of the major ramifications of the review for investment but was also mindful of the strategic interest and the interest of the telecommunication industry.
Mr Iddrisu thanked the chairman and members of the committee for the diligent and thorough work done to put to rest such a delicate and controversial issue.
The minister said the committee’s work was partly in fulfilment of the campaign promise of the National Democratic Congress(NDC) before the December general election to review the sale of Ghana Telecom (GT) for $900 million to Vodafone, when given the mandate to rule.
He expressed profound appreciation to the committee members for a job well done.
The committee was set up early this year to have a second look at the sale of Ghana Telecom to Vodafone by the previous administration.
The terms of reference for the 10-member committee, aka the Justice Akwei Addo Committee, was to investigate the justification and rationale for the inclusion of an Indemnity Clause in the agreement and its possible removal.
Other terms of reference included ascertaining the value for money and the financial implications of the cash-free debt-free basis of the transaction for the Government of Ghana (GOG), as well as finding explanation for the huge liabilities of Ghana Telecom prior to the sale and why some of the liabilities were not declared at closing.
The inclusion of the National Fibre-Optic Backbone infrastructure in GT transaction, when it was conceived as a stand-alone, open-access and non-discriminatory project to support the deployment of ICT in the country, was also investigated by the committee.
The committee also ascertained the status and repayment of $30 million from China Eximbank for the implementation of the first phase of the National Fibre Optic Backbone and its implication on future financing of ICT projects.
It also determined the extent to which Vodafone had injected working capital into GT, which was the basis for the sale by the previous government.
Presenting the report, the Chairman of the committee, Mr Justice Akwei Addo, said the committee examined all facts under its terms of reference before coming up with its report with an appendix attached.
“Without much ado, we would like to present the report and the appendix to the minister,” Mr Justice Addo said.
Receiving the report, Mr Iddrisu noted that he was unable to comment on any of the recommendations, since the report had just been presented to him.
He, however, reiterated the Government’s commitment to open and transparent administration and explained that any decision taken by the Government based on the recommendations of the committee would be made known to the public.
He said the Government was aware of the major ramifications of the review for investment but was also mindful of the strategic interest and the interest of the telecommunication industry.
Mr Iddrisu thanked the chairman and members of the committee for the diligent and thorough work done to put to rest such a delicate and controversial issue.
The minister said the committee’s work was partly in fulfilment of the campaign promise of the National Democratic Congress(NDC) before the December general election to review the sale of Ghana Telecom (GT) for $900 million to Vodafone, when given the mandate to rule.
He expressed profound appreciation to the committee members for a job well done.
The committee was set up early this year to have a second look at the sale of Ghana Telecom to Vodafone by the previous administration.
The terms of reference for the 10-member committee, aka the Justice Akwei Addo Committee, was to investigate the justification and rationale for the inclusion of an Indemnity Clause in the agreement and its possible removal.
Other terms of reference included ascertaining the value for money and the financial implications of the cash-free debt-free basis of the transaction for the Government of Ghana (GOG), as well as finding explanation for the huge liabilities of Ghana Telecom prior to the sale and why some of the liabilities were not declared at closing.
The inclusion of the National Fibre-Optic Backbone infrastructure in GT transaction, when it was conceived as a stand-alone, open-access and non-discriminatory project to support the deployment of ICT in the country, was also investigated by the committee.
The committee also ascertained the status and repayment of $30 million from China Eximbank for the implementation of the first phase of the National Fibre Optic Backbone and its implication on future financing of ICT projects.
It also determined the extent to which Vodafone had injected working capital into GT, which was the basis for the sale by the previous government.
Monday, September 7, 2009
ESCHEW ETHNICITY, DISCRIMINATION (PAGE 45)
The Archbishop of the Accra Archdiocese of the Catholic Church, Most Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle, has called on Christians to eschew ethnicity and discrimination among themselves.
He explained that as Christians, they should not show distinction and any divisive tendencies between them and other churches, since that would not augur well for the country’s forward march as a shining example for Africa and the world.
The archbishop made the call at Ashongman, a suburb of Accra, during when he celebrated mass at the St. Mark Catholic Church yesterday.
He also called for a common stand by churches against the invasion of church services by commercial photographers and video men popularly called (paparazzi) to take pictures for commercial purposes.
The archbishop explained that the church was a temple of God and not for display but for prayers and repentance and humility.
He said most Ghanaians were looking forward to Christians and other religious bodies for guidance to bring peace and unity to the country for rapid development.
He urged Catholics not to indulge in divisive tendencies but to see themselves as one big family, since class distinction would not have any place among Christians.
He urged Christians to live by what the say by eschewing ethnicity, class distinction and unhealthy competition and strive for perfection.
The archbishop said the declining standards in education was a reflection of lack of commitment on the part of teachers.
He urged workers especially public and civil servants to change and adopt a serious and positive attitude to government work and property by eschewing malingering and absenteeism.
He explained that out of the 365 days in a year government employees worked averagely for 211 days with the rest being spent on holidays, funerals and annual leaves.
He explained that as Christians, they should not show distinction and any divisive tendencies between them and other churches, since that would not augur well for the country’s forward march as a shining example for Africa and the world.
The archbishop made the call at Ashongman, a suburb of Accra, during when he celebrated mass at the St. Mark Catholic Church yesterday.
He also called for a common stand by churches against the invasion of church services by commercial photographers and video men popularly called (paparazzi) to take pictures for commercial purposes.
The archbishop explained that the church was a temple of God and not for display but for prayers and repentance and humility.
He said most Ghanaians were looking forward to Christians and other religious bodies for guidance to bring peace and unity to the country for rapid development.
He urged Catholics not to indulge in divisive tendencies but to see themselves as one big family, since class distinction would not have any place among Christians.
He urged Christians to live by what the say by eschewing ethnicity, class distinction and unhealthy competition and strive for perfection.
The archbishop said the declining standards in education was a reflection of lack of commitment on the part of teachers.
He urged workers especially public and civil servants to change and adopt a serious and positive attitude to government work and property by eschewing malingering and absenteeism.
He explained that out of the 365 days in a year government employees worked averagely for 211 days with the rest being spent on holidays, funerals and annual leaves.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
NEW POLICY FOR INLAND WATER TRANSPORT (PAGE 38)
The Ministry of Transport is developing a policy framework to regulate all small vessels and canoes to bring sanity into transportation on the Volta Lake and other inland waterways.
The policy framework is also intended to create the platform for the ministry to provide security and protection to the marine environment against oil spillage and toxic dumping.
Mr Mike Hammah, the Minister of Transport, made this known in a speech read on his behalf at a workshop for inspectors, surveyors and marine engineers in Accra.
A technical co-operation agreement has already been signed between the Ministry of Transport and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to develop a regulatory framework.
Apart from the IMO-sponsored model safety regulations, there is no international treaty regime to cater for small ships and fishing vessels that operate on inland waterways.
Mr Hammah explained that the regulatory framework was partly designed to prevent the perennial loss of lives and property on the Volta Lake and inland waterways in the country because of the absence of a law to regulate the activities of small ships and canoe owners.
He said the assumption that surveyors of big ships could take up the inspection duties of those local crafts, in reality, did not work.
He said Ghana, described as the a pacesetter in maritime affairs in Africa, had adopted the IMO model safety regulations which were currently being incorporated into the national laws to enable the law to hold boat owners responsible for acts which endangered lives of people on the sea and inland waterways.
The minister said for a country such as Ghana which had more than 90 per cent of the tonnage of vessels made up of small fishing vessels, the training of surveyors and inspectors of non-convention ships could not be overemphasised.
He announced that a bill using the model regulations had already been prepared and national stakeholders workshops held on those models while the draft bill was being finalised by the Attorney-General’s Department.
Mr Hammah said the current series of workshops, therefore, were aimed at providing surveyors and inspectors of non-convention vessels with the necessary tools to implement the law when passed.
He explained that under the new law, drawings and plans of new crafts and vessels would have to be approved before construction could take place.
Mr Hammah stressed that vessels would be inspected during construction to ensure that they conformed to the standards as stipulated in the regulatory framework to reduce the spate of accidents and their resultant loss of lives and property on the sea.
The Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Mr I. P. Azuma, said technical regulations relating to surveys, stability, as well as safety of equipment, fire protection and operating vessels, occupational safety and pollution were some of the areas that would occupy the attention of the participants to make the waterways safe for passengers.
The policy framework is also intended to create the platform for the ministry to provide security and protection to the marine environment against oil spillage and toxic dumping.
Mr Mike Hammah, the Minister of Transport, made this known in a speech read on his behalf at a workshop for inspectors, surveyors and marine engineers in Accra.
A technical co-operation agreement has already been signed between the Ministry of Transport and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to develop a regulatory framework.
Apart from the IMO-sponsored model safety regulations, there is no international treaty regime to cater for small ships and fishing vessels that operate on inland waterways.
Mr Hammah explained that the regulatory framework was partly designed to prevent the perennial loss of lives and property on the Volta Lake and inland waterways in the country because of the absence of a law to regulate the activities of small ships and canoe owners.
He said the assumption that surveyors of big ships could take up the inspection duties of those local crafts, in reality, did not work.
He said Ghana, described as the a pacesetter in maritime affairs in Africa, had adopted the IMO model safety regulations which were currently being incorporated into the national laws to enable the law to hold boat owners responsible for acts which endangered lives of people on the sea and inland waterways.
The minister said for a country such as Ghana which had more than 90 per cent of the tonnage of vessels made up of small fishing vessels, the training of surveyors and inspectors of non-convention ships could not be overemphasised.
He announced that a bill using the model regulations had already been prepared and national stakeholders workshops held on those models while the draft bill was being finalised by the Attorney-General’s Department.
Mr Hammah said the current series of workshops, therefore, were aimed at providing surveyors and inspectors of non-convention vessels with the necessary tools to implement the law when passed.
He explained that under the new law, drawings and plans of new crafts and vessels would have to be approved before construction could take place.
Mr Hammah stressed that vessels would be inspected during construction to ensure that they conformed to the standards as stipulated in the regulatory framework to reduce the spate of accidents and their resultant loss of lives and property on the sea.
The Director-General of the Ghana Maritime Authority, Mr I. P. Azuma, said technical regulations relating to surveys, stability, as well as safety of equipment, fire protection and operating vessels, occupational safety and pollution were some of the areas that would occupy the attention of the participants to make the waterways safe for passengers.
MINISTRY TO EXPAND LANDS UNDER IRRIGATION (BACK PAGE)
THE Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MoFA) is to expand agricultural lands under irrigation from 33,000 hectares to 50,000 by 2015, the Minister of Agriculture, Mr Kwasi Ahwoi, has announced.
The total agricultural land area is estimated at 13.6 million hectares of which the potential irrigable land area is estimated at 500,000 hectares.
Mr Ahwoi, who announced this at the inauguration of Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) Board of Directors in Accra yesterday, said out of the total 13.6 million hectares of agricultural land only 7.2 million hectares were under cultivation.
He explained that the country was endowed with extensive soils which could be developed to meet the agricultural requirements of the country, but the hostilities of the weather characterised by unreliable and uneven distribution of rain did not favour any systematic and sustainable development of the agricultural potential of the country.
He explained that the development of that vast agricultural land will require factors which included the adoption and expansion of irrigated agriculture as a guarantee against the risk of crop failure due to lack of water.
Mr Ahwoi said the use of irrigation technology in combination with good soil management and choice of appropriate crop types and varieties were the most important factors for sustainable food availability and food security.
He said the country’s experience in irrigation was woefully limited and appeared worsened by the habit of shifting cultivation, a farming system which predominated food production strategies.
He also attributed the limited irrigation experience to high infrastructural costs involved in developing and expanding irrigation facilities in the rural areas of the country.
He said because of the high cost of irrigation facilities, the provision of irrigation infrastructure over the years had been the sole responsibility of the government.
Mr Mallam Seidu, Chairman of the 11-member Board of Directors of GIDA, for his part, said the country was fortunate to have large amounts of water bodies and favourable topography, but it was ranked among the countries with the lowest percentage of irrigated agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa.
The minister said despite those challenges and irrespective of the many fiscal and financial problems limiting the rapid development of irrigation, it was one of the key areas that could play an important role in the realisation of the objectives of food security and poverty reduction in the rural areas.
He said for that reason the government was determined to make irrigation take its rightful place in the agricultural development agenda of the country.
Mr Ahwoi said MoFA, under its Medium Term Sector Plan for 2009-2015, had put irrigation development in its rightful place to play a key role in achieving reduction in rural poverty and overall equitable economic development.
The chairman said there was, therefore, the need to intensify the development of irrigation and in particular to expand production of high value vegetables and fruits to diversify the country’s exports.
The total agricultural land area is estimated at 13.6 million hectares of which the potential irrigable land area is estimated at 500,000 hectares.
Mr Ahwoi, who announced this at the inauguration of Ghana Irrigation Development Authority (GIDA) Board of Directors in Accra yesterday, said out of the total 13.6 million hectares of agricultural land only 7.2 million hectares were under cultivation.
He explained that the country was endowed with extensive soils which could be developed to meet the agricultural requirements of the country, but the hostilities of the weather characterised by unreliable and uneven distribution of rain did not favour any systematic and sustainable development of the agricultural potential of the country.
He explained that the development of that vast agricultural land will require factors which included the adoption and expansion of irrigated agriculture as a guarantee against the risk of crop failure due to lack of water.
Mr Ahwoi said the use of irrigation technology in combination with good soil management and choice of appropriate crop types and varieties were the most important factors for sustainable food availability and food security.
He said the country’s experience in irrigation was woefully limited and appeared worsened by the habit of shifting cultivation, a farming system which predominated food production strategies.
He also attributed the limited irrigation experience to high infrastructural costs involved in developing and expanding irrigation facilities in the rural areas of the country.
He said because of the high cost of irrigation facilities, the provision of irrigation infrastructure over the years had been the sole responsibility of the government.
Mr Mallam Seidu, Chairman of the 11-member Board of Directors of GIDA, for his part, said the country was fortunate to have large amounts of water bodies and favourable topography, but it was ranked among the countries with the lowest percentage of irrigated agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa.
The minister said despite those challenges and irrespective of the many fiscal and financial problems limiting the rapid development of irrigation, it was one of the key areas that could play an important role in the realisation of the objectives of food security and poverty reduction in the rural areas.
He said for that reason the government was determined to make irrigation take its rightful place in the agricultural development agenda of the country.
Mr Ahwoi said MoFA, under its Medium Term Sector Plan for 2009-2015, had put irrigation development in its rightful place to play a key role in achieving reduction in rural poverty and overall equitable economic development.
The chairman said there was, therefore, the need to intensify the development of irrigation and in particular to expand production of high value vegetables and fruits to diversify the country’s exports.
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