The Customs, Excise and Preventive Service (CEPS) is giving more impetus to the training of its personnel to improve on their performance and enhance the modernisation drive of the service.
Mr Emmanuel Doku, Commissioner of the service, said last Friday that the service was confronted with challenges and temptations but the only way to overcome them was to improve the competencies and the skills of the personnel through regular training.
He was addressing the passing-out parade of 114 recruits who had completed 24 weeks of basic paramilitary/customs training course at the CEPS Academy at Agotime-Kpetoe in the Adaklu-Anyigbe District of the Volta Region.
“Through training, we will be better positioned to make a positive impact on our clients and stakeholders. It is the only way we can improve client satisfaction in today’s competitive business environment,” Mr Doku stated.
“If our strategic focus is to have an informed, multi-skilled and productive workforce capable of influencing and managing change, then we need to adopt a more balanced approach to training,” he added.
Mr Doku advised CEPS officials to develop a global perspective in their approach to work in view of challenges which had come about because of globalisation.
“In a global marketplace, we need global standards,” he stressed, adding that they must set their eyes on the world and broaden their horizon and do the profession good.”
The best all-round recruit was Mr Eric Boakye, a past student of Donkorkrom Senior High School, while Miss Perfect Ahamadzie was adjudged the best female recruit. The best academic recruit was Mr Yusif Mustapha while the best in physical training was Bright Asare.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
REACTIVATE MAWULI SCHOOL ASSEMBLY HALL PROJECT (PAGE 11)
The authorities of Mawuli Senior High School have called on the Ministry of Education to reactivate the school’s assembly hall complex, administration and library block projects.
The projects were initiated in 1999 to prepare the grounds for the admission and integration of blind students into the regular school system.
The Assistant Headmaster of the school in charge of administration, Mr Martin T. K. Amiteye, made the appeal at the 59th Honour’s Day celebration of the school in Ho. He said the projects were initiated by the government under the Public Investment Project (PIP) but had either been abandoned or had seen little progress.
The theme for the celebration was: “The place of co-curricular activities in the enhancement of discipline and academic work in schools”.
Mr Amiteye said the administration and library block projects were behind schedule and would affect the effective implementation of the senior high school programme.
He said the school had been mandated to admit and integrate blind students but a project that was started to enable the school to embrace the project had also come to a standstill and called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) to step in to reactivate the project.
Additionally, Mr Amiteye said staff accommodation was inadequate and the few available staff bungalows were in very deplorable state.
He called on the Ministry of Education to urgently renovate existing bungalows and build new ones to provide adequate accommodation for more than 70 teachers of the school.
On academic performance, the assistant headmaster said the school performed creditably in the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in 2008.
The school presented 426 students in WASSCE in 2008 and recorded 100 per cent pass. Out of the 426 students, 359 qualified for admission to the university.
Additionally, the school won the national prize on a civic education programme dubbed “Project Citizen” and is scheduled to represent the nation at the continental level.
Mr Amiteye said Mawuli School had, over the 59 years of its establishment, been a centre for the transformation of minds, hearts and hands of people who had contributed towards national development and the enrichment of human life worldwide.
He, therefore, called for the right interventions to complete the projects in the school.
The Deputy Minister of Education, Dr J. S. Annan, said indiscipline in schools undermined development and threatened the government’s efforts at producing a reputable manpower base from educational institutions.
He, therefore, expressed the desire that the government and other partners in the educational sector would collaborate to produce quality men and women needed to launch the nation into an accelerated growth rate and break the cycle of poverty.
The projects were initiated in 1999 to prepare the grounds for the admission and integration of blind students into the regular school system.
The Assistant Headmaster of the school in charge of administration, Mr Martin T. K. Amiteye, made the appeal at the 59th Honour’s Day celebration of the school in Ho. He said the projects were initiated by the government under the Public Investment Project (PIP) but had either been abandoned or had seen little progress.
The theme for the celebration was: “The place of co-curricular activities in the enhancement of discipline and academic work in schools”.
Mr Amiteye said the administration and library block projects were behind schedule and would affect the effective implementation of the senior high school programme.
He said the school had been mandated to admit and integrate blind students but a project that was started to enable the school to embrace the project had also come to a standstill and called on the Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) to step in to reactivate the project.
Additionally, Mr Amiteye said staff accommodation was inadequate and the few available staff bungalows were in very deplorable state.
He called on the Ministry of Education to urgently renovate existing bungalows and build new ones to provide adequate accommodation for more than 70 teachers of the school.
On academic performance, the assistant headmaster said the school performed creditably in the West Africa Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in 2008.
The school presented 426 students in WASSCE in 2008 and recorded 100 per cent pass. Out of the 426 students, 359 qualified for admission to the university.
Additionally, the school won the national prize on a civic education programme dubbed “Project Citizen” and is scheduled to represent the nation at the continental level.
Mr Amiteye said Mawuli School had, over the 59 years of its establishment, been a centre for the transformation of minds, hearts and hands of people who had contributed towards national development and the enrichment of human life worldwide.
He, therefore, called for the right interventions to complete the projects in the school.
The Deputy Minister of Education, Dr J. S. Annan, said indiscipline in schools undermined development and threatened the government’s efforts at producing a reputable manpower base from educational institutions.
He, therefore, expressed the desire that the government and other partners in the educational sector would collaborate to produce quality men and women needed to launch the nation into an accelerated growth rate and break the cycle of poverty.
KPANDO SCHOOL TEACHERS SHARE FACILITIES ...They have inadequate accommodation (PAGE 11)
The Headmaster of Kpando Senior High School in the Volta Region, Mr Geoffrey Bissi, has expressed concern about the poor infrastructural facilities in the school and appealed for support to improve on the situation.
At the school’s 56th speech and prize-giving day, Mr Bissi said the school had never been fortunate to enjoy assistance from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to improve its infrastructure.
He said, for example, that construction of a dining/assembly hall complex that was started in 1978 but had not been completed, adding that although work resumed in November 1999, it was abandoned again in 2000 because of lack of funds, and as a result, the hall leaked profusely.
The headmaster also said there were inadequate accommodation facilities to house the school’s 54 teachers, and indicated that the situation had created serious congestion in the few facilities available, since the teachers shared the limited facilities.
He, therefore, appealed to the government to construct additional accommodation facilities for teachers and also release more funds to complete the assembly/dining hall complex.
Mr Bissi also appealed to the authorities to tar the 1.5-kilometre access road to the school to enhance accessibility.
He said the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) had financed the construction of a semi-detached bungalow for two teachers at a cost of GH¢7,400 and a girls’ dormitory block at a cost of GH¢11,000, fenced the frontage of the school and fixed a gate.
He said the PTA had further placed order for 400 mono desks to augment current classroom furniture stock, adding the PTA had by this proved their commitment to support the provision of quality education.
Reacting to the headmaster’s remarks, the Mr Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, expressed surprise at the slow rate of infrastructural development at the school and pointed out that nothing had changed since he last visited the school 15 years ago.
Delivering an address on the theme ”the Responsible Parenthood and Teacher Professionalism: Key to Quality Education”, Mr Tettey-Enyo said education was a complex process which involved not only children and their teachers but the family as well.
Acknowledging the fact that quality education produced a balanced personality and useful citizen, the minister called on all stakeholders to collectively rise up to the challenge to curb the emerging computer fraud, truancy, smoking, alcoholism, occultism, petty thefts and the extortion of money from juniors that had plagued many schools today.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, called for the extension of pension age of teachers to 65 years so that the nation could tap their expertise.
The Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Ms Akua Sena Dansua, thanked the people for their hard work resulting in the modest achievement chalked up so far and expressed optimism that the promises by the President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, to ensure equitable distribution of resources would benefit the school.
At the school’s 56th speech and prize-giving day, Mr Bissi said the school had never been fortunate to enjoy assistance from the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) to improve its infrastructure.
He said, for example, that construction of a dining/assembly hall complex that was started in 1978 but had not been completed, adding that although work resumed in November 1999, it was abandoned again in 2000 because of lack of funds, and as a result, the hall leaked profusely.
The headmaster also said there were inadequate accommodation facilities to house the school’s 54 teachers, and indicated that the situation had created serious congestion in the few facilities available, since the teachers shared the limited facilities.
He, therefore, appealed to the government to construct additional accommodation facilities for teachers and also release more funds to complete the assembly/dining hall complex.
Mr Bissi also appealed to the authorities to tar the 1.5-kilometre access road to the school to enhance accessibility.
He said the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) had financed the construction of a semi-detached bungalow for two teachers at a cost of GH¢7,400 and a girls’ dormitory block at a cost of GH¢11,000, fenced the frontage of the school and fixed a gate.
He said the PTA had further placed order for 400 mono desks to augment current classroom furniture stock, adding the PTA had by this proved their commitment to support the provision of quality education.
Reacting to the headmaster’s remarks, the Mr Minister of Education, Mr Alex Tettey-Enyo, expressed surprise at the slow rate of infrastructural development at the school and pointed out that nothing had changed since he last visited the school 15 years ago.
Delivering an address on the theme ”the Responsible Parenthood and Teacher Professionalism: Key to Quality Education”, Mr Tettey-Enyo said education was a complex process which involved not only children and their teachers but the family as well.
Acknowledging the fact that quality education produced a balanced personality and useful citizen, the minister called on all stakeholders to collectively rise up to the challenge to curb the emerging computer fraud, truancy, smoking, alcoholism, occultism, petty thefts and the extortion of money from juniors that had plagued many schools today.
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, called for the extension of pension age of teachers to 65 years so that the nation could tap their expertise.
The Minister of Women and Children’s Affairs, Ms Akua Sena Dansua, thanked the people for their hard work resulting in the modest achievement chalked up so far and expressed optimism that the promises by the President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, to ensure equitable distribution of resources would benefit the school.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
EU URGED TO STRENGTHEN SUPPORT FOR GHANA (PAGE 20)
THE Agbogbomefia of Ho-Asogli, Togbe Afede XIV, has urged the European Union (EU) to strengthen support for the nation to enable it to withstand the shocks of the worsening global economic situation.
He urged the various entities of the Union and the Union itself as a body to engage the government to explore how the EU could help it to meet its budgetary targets.
Togbe Afede made the call when a delegation of EU mission in Ghana paid a courtesy call on him in Ho last Thursday.
The delegation was on an exploratory visit to the Volta Region to access the socio-economic status of the region with the view to informing various countries to strengthen development planning with focus on the region.
Togbe Afede, who is the President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, said the government had expressed its commitment to fiscal prudence as a necessary strategy towards stabilising the economy in the face of rising inflation and depreciation of the local currency.
He said it had also expressed its commitment to ensure the growth of the economy by supporting the private sector, investing in infrastructure and developing the human capital.
He said the region faced a lot of development challenges, particularly in areas of education, health, water and sanitation, agriculture and employment generation.
The paramount chief added that “our agriculture for instance is still at the basic subsistence level and we are yet to see the growth of large plantations and industries that will provide needed jobs for our people”.
Togbe Afede said as chiefs, their people were highly expectant of bringing those possibilities to life but paradoxically with the advent of modern central governance, the traditional authorities had lost their powers of taxation and earned no royalties from the little natural resources.
He, therefore, announced that a US$250 million five–year Volta Region Economic Development Plan was to be launched on June 16, this year, with the view to upgrading the living standards of the people.
He said the Volta Plan was a contribution to government efforts to bring development to the people on the conviction that development was a shared responsibility.
In an address, the head of EU Mission in Ghana, Mr Miroslav Krenek, announced that a mapping exercise was to be sponsored in the Volta Region to determine the state of mineral deposits in various areas.
He said during the three-day visit to the region, the delegation would hold consultations with the regional leadership and a non-governmental organisation known as Volta Foundation and inspect business activities in the region.
Mr Krenek, who is also the ambassador of the Czech Republic, said they would visit a banana plantation and assess the possibility of introducing a fast-growing tilapia specie in the Volta Basin and also visit the Kingdom fruit project at Tafi.
The Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Colonel Cyril Necku (retd), thanked the EU for its assistance to the region and the nation for many years, adding that currently the sixth micro project for the region was ongoing at a total cost of GH¢3.2 million.
He stated that the Danish government, which is also a member of the EU, had been associated with the Volta Region and had provided intervention valued at GH¢17.3 million from 2004 to 2008.
He commended the partnership over the years and expressed the hope that more assistance would be extended to complement the government’s efforts at increasing access to and utilising good quality and economic infrastructure by deprived communities.
He urged the various entities of the Union and the Union itself as a body to engage the government to explore how the EU could help it to meet its budgetary targets.
Togbe Afede made the call when a delegation of EU mission in Ghana paid a courtesy call on him in Ho last Thursday.
The delegation was on an exploratory visit to the Volta Region to access the socio-economic status of the region with the view to informing various countries to strengthen development planning with focus on the region.
Togbe Afede, who is the President of the Volta Regional House of Chiefs, said the government had expressed its commitment to fiscal prudence as a necessary strategy towards stabilising the economy in the face of rising inflation and depreciation of the local currency.
He said it had also expressed its commitment to ensure the growth of the economy by supporting the private sector, investing in infrastructure and developing the human capital.
He said the region faced a lot of development challenges, particularly in areas of education, health, water and sanitation, agriculture and employment generation.
The paramount chief added that “our agriculture for instance is still at the basic subsistence level and we are yet to see the growth of large plantations and industries that will provide needed jobs for our people”.
Togbe Afede said as chiefs, their people were highly expectant of bringing those possibilities to life but paradoxically with the advent of modern central governance, the traditional authorities had lost their powers of taxation and earned no royalties from the little natural resources.
He, therefore, announced that a US$250 million five–year Volta Region Economic Development Plan was to be launched on June 16, this year, with the view to upgrading the living standards of the people.
He said the Volta Plan was a contribution to government efforts to bring development to the people on the conviction that development was a shared responsibility.
In an address, the head of EU Mission in Ghana, Mr Miroslav Krenek, announced that a mapping exercise was to be sponsored in the Volta Region to determine the state of mineral deposits in various areas.
He said during the three-day visit to the region, the delegation would hold consultations with the regional leadership and a non-governmental organisation known as Volta Foundation and inspect business activities in the region.
Mr Krenek, who is also the ambassador of the Czech Republic, said they would visit a banana plantation and assess the possibility of introducing a fast-growing tilapia specie in the Volta Basin and also visit the Kingdom fruit project at Tafi.
The Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Colonel Cyril Necku (retd), thanked the EU for its assistance to the region and the nation for many years, adding that currently the sixth micro project for the region was ongoing at a total cost of GH¢3.2 million.
He stated that the Danish government, which is also a member of the EU, had been associated with the Volta Region and had provided intervention valued at GH¢17.3 million from 2004 to 2008.
He commended the partnership over the years and expressed the hope that more assistance would be extended to complement the government’s efforts at increasing access to and utilising good quality and economic infrastructure by deprived communities.
Friday, May 22, 2009
GHANA'S ADVOCACY, MODEL FOR EMERGING ECONOMIES IN AFRICA (PAGE 21)
AN eminent expatriate has described the Ghanaian model of advocacy as an excellent one which can serve as a model for other emerging economies in Africa.
He said many business associations had succeeded in advocacy so there was the need to encourage healthy and solid dialogue that could provide foundations upon which progress is made to propel the nation towards the middle income status.
The expatriate, Dr Dale Rachmeler, who is the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) fund manager in Ghana, made the observation at a workshop for district chief executives and presiding members from the southern sector of the Volta Region at Ho last Tuesday.
He said after advocacy, there was the need to cultivate business practices that would augur well for the growth of business, adding that there must be the political will to resolve problems and barriers facing them so that at the end of the day, their incomes could increase.
Dr Dale said so far 360 beneficiaries of the BUSAC fund had gone through a designed method to achieve final results, adding that research was the first step once a grant was obtained through a competitive process.
He said a successful business association was the one which was able to present its case, persuade the decision maker to listen to the solutions proposed and then agreed to a plan of action to resolve that problem.
In an address read on his behalf, the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, stated that 49 associations out of 360 in the region received a total of GH¢1,338,534 of grants since the inception of the project in the region from 2006 to date.
The beneficiaries included farmers’ associations, a radio station, organised unions, market women, traders’ association, fishermen associations, garages association, porters’ association, dressmakers’ association, association of small scale industries and chemical sellers’ association.
Mr Amenowode re-affirmed the government’s determination to make it possible for the private sector to effectively partner the government and for that matter, the public sector, to work assiduously for the development of the nation.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that the government alone cannot shoulder the entire burden of developing the nation hence the need for an effective public-private partnership”, he stressed.
The regional minister, therefore, urged the participants to take the chance and make use of every opportunity to improve upon the business environment for their benefit and that of the nation.
He gave the assurance that the Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council, together with the 18 municipal and district assemblies in the region, would do everything in their power to promote business in the region.
He said many business associations had succeeded in advocacy so there was the need to encourage healthy and solid dialogue that could provide foundations upon which progress is made to propel the nation towards the middle income status.
The expatriate, Dr Dale Rachmeler, who is the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge (BUSAC) fund manager in Ghana, made the observation at a workshop for district chief executives and presiding members from the southern sector of the Volta Region at Ho last Tuesday.
He said after advocacy, there was the need to cultivate business practices that would augur well for the growth of business, adding that there must be the political will to resolve problems and barriers facing them so that at the end of the day, their incomes could increase.
Dr Dale said so far 360 beneficiaries of the BUSAC fund had gone through a designed method to achieve final results, adding that research was the first step once a grant was obtained through a competitive process.
He said a successful business association was the one which was able to present its case, persuade the decision maker to listen to the solutions proposed and then agreed to a plan of action to resolve that problem.
In an address read on his behalf, the Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, stated that 49 associations out of 360 in the region received a total of GH¢1,338,534 of grants since the inception of the project in the region from 2006 to date.
The beneficiaries included farmers’ associations, a radio station, organised unions, market women, traders’ association, fishermen associations, garages association, porters’ association, dressmakers’ association, association of small scale industries and chemical sellers’ association.
Mr Amenowode re-affirmed the government’s determination to make it possible for the private sector to effectively partner the government and for that matter, the public sector, to work assiduously for the development of the nation.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that the government alone cannot shoulder the entire burden of developing the nation hence the need for an effective public-private partnership”, he stressed.
The regional minister, therefore, urged the participants to take the chance and make use of every opportunity to improve upon the business environment for their benefit and that of the nation.
He gave the assurance that the Volta Regional Co-ordinating Council, together with the 18 municipal and district assemblies in the region, would do everything in their power to promote business in the region.
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
GET GENUINE LICENCES BEFORE OPENING CHEMICAL SHOPS (PAGE 21)
THE pharmacist in charge of the Ho Municipal Hospital, Mr Samuel Elikem Hodogbey, has advised prospective dealers in the pharmaceutical industry to procure genuine licences from the Pharmacy Council to open chemical or pharmacy shops.
He said by law, a chemical shop should be manned by a person with not less than a Senior High School qualification while a qualified pharmacist was expected to run a pharmacy shop.
Mr Hodogbey gave the advice at the 10th anniversary celebration and awards day of Elikplim Pharmacy Limited at Aflao during which 18 outstanding members of staff received awards such as double-door refrigerators, television sets, deep freezers, gas and rice cookers, blenders and textiles.
He expressed regret that majority of pharmacy shops were established in the big cities to the detriment of small towns, adding that Ketu South was blessed with the location of the Elikplim Pharmacy at Aflao.
Mr Hodogbey said pharmacy shops were front-line facilities for first aid services from where patients were referred to hospitals when prescriptions failed.
He commended the management of the Elikplim Pharmacy for a vibrant workforce that were self-motivated and delivered good services to clients over the years.
The Managing Director of Elikplim Pharmacy, Togbe Debresu VIII, said the business started as a chemical shop in Kwamikrom in 1991 and relocated to Aflao in 1992 and upgraded into a pharmacy shop in 1994.
He commended the Pharmacy Council and several clients for their co-operation over the years, adding that the company had faced and overcome many challenges.
Togbe Debresu, who is also the chief of Kpando-Dafor, expressed optimism that the company would expand from the present three branches at Dambai, Accra and Aflao to other parts of the country.
Mr Ernest Tagbotor, an agent of a pharmacy shop at Aflao, said it was unique to honour the workers in recognition of their immense contribution to the growth and development of the company.
He said by law, a chemical shop should be manned by a person with not less than a Senior High School qualification while a qualified pharmacist was expected to run a pharmacy shop.
Mr Hodogbey gave the advice at the 10th anniversary celebration and awards day of Elikplim Pharmacy Limited at Aflao during which 18 outstanding members of staff received awards such as double-door refrigerators, television sets, deep freezers, gas and rice cookers, blenders and textiles.
He expressed regret that majority of pharmacy shops were established in the big cities to the detriment of small towns, adding that Ketu South was blessed with the location of the Elikplim Pharmacy at Aflao.
Mr Hodogbey said pharmacy shops were front-line facilities for first aid services from where patients were referred to hospitals when prescriptions failed.
He commended the management of the Elikplim Pharmacy for a vibrant workforce that were self-motivated and delivered good services to clients over the years.
The Managing Director of Elikplim Pharmacy, Togbe Debresu VIII, said the business started as a chemical shop in Kwamikrom in 1991 and relocated to Aflao in 1992 and upgraded into a pharmacy shop in 1994.
He commended the Pharmacy Council and several clients for their co-operation over the years, adding that the company had faced and overcome many challenges.
Togbe Debresu, who is also the chief of Kpando-Dafor, expressed optimism that the company would expand from the present three branches at Dambai, Accra and Aflao to other parts of the country.
Mr Ernest Tagbotor, an agent of a pharmacy shop at Aflao, said it was unique to honour the workers in recognition of their immense contribution to the growth and development of the company.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
AZAGLO FAILS TO GET APPROVAL (PAGE 14)
The President’s nominee for chief executive for the newly created Ketu-North District, Mr Moses Azaglo, once again could not get the approval of the district assembly as the 29 members present voted against him by 15 to 14 votes, representing 52 per cent.
Mr Azaglo, a native of Dzodze, was rejected for the second time in an election conducted by the Electoral Commission after scoring the same margin as happened 10 days ago at the same venue.
Despite several lobbies and manoeuvres by the Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, to prevent his rejection.
At the beginning of events, the opening prayer was preceded by a popular gospel song which stated thus, “Yesterday is gone another day has come, do something new in my life,” apparently urging the assembly members to change their minds and to confirm the new DCE.
But the members eventually repeated the same results which was unpalatable to the people although they knew the powers that were at play in the constituency which had been acclaimed as the World Bank of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the years.
Mr Amenowode said the Ketu- North, South-Dayi and the newly created Biakoye districts were the only ones that betrayed the achievement of 100 per cent in the confirmation of the President’s nominees in the region.
He revealed that six districts scored 100 per cent with the lowest being 75 per cent, indicating that the President’s nominees had been overwhelmingly accepted.
Mr Amenowode explained that the proposed Biakoye District was plagued with a legal injunction on making Nkonya-Ahenkro the district capital and for the Ketu North, the nominee would have to be withdrawn for new consultations to be undertaken.
He said consultation and other matters relating to the appointment of a new DCE would be approached with due diligence to make sure that the same mistakes were not repeated.
Mr Azaglo, a native of Dzodze, was rejected for the second time in an election conducted by the Electoral Commission after scoring the same margin as happened 10 days ago at the same venue.
Despite several lobbies and manoeuvres by the Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, to prevent his rejection.
At the beginning of events, the opening prayer was preceded by a popular gospel song which stated thus, “Yesterday is gone another day has come, do something new in my life,” apparently urging the assembly members to change their minds and to confirm the new DCE.
But the members eventually repeated the same results which was unpalatable to the people although they knew the powers that were at play in the constituency which had been acclaimed as the World Bank of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) over the years.
Mr Amenowode said the Ketu- North, South-Dayi and the newly created Biakoye districts were the only ones that betrayed the achievement of 100 per cent in the confirmation of the President’s nominees in the region.
He revealed that six districts scored 100 per cent with the lowest being 75 per cent, indicating that the President’s nominees had been overwhelmingly accepted.
Mr Amenowode explained that the proposed Biakoye District was plagued with a legal injunction on making Nkonya-Ahenkro the district capital and for the Ketu North, the nominee would have to be withdrawn for new consultations to be undertaken.
He said consultation and other matters relating to the appointment of a new DCE would be approached with due diligence to make sure that the same mistakes were not repeated.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
ELECTRICITY PREPAID SYSTEM, ADVANTAGE FOR CONSUMERS (PAGE 40)
THE Volta Regional Manager of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Mr Felix Fiebor, has stated that the prepaid system for electricity consumption has created some advantages for the consumer and the service provider.
He said one advantage to the customer was that it helped in the management of energy, adding that the system helped the user or customer to cut down consumption as it informed the consumer with the red light to turn off gadgets before the system was reinforced.
Mr Fiebor who was speaking to the Daily Graphic in Ho, said it also helped the company in the collection of money up front.
He said initially when the system started, fears were generated because every human being feared change and that made the consumers hesitant, but now it had been accepted and had also eliminated instances of disputed bills.
According to Mr Fiebor, the system was now operational in Ho with vending stations at Tarso, the ECG main yard and the Ho main market.
He said steps were underway to extend the system to Sokode in the Ho Municipality, Agotime–Kpetoe and Ziope in the Adaklu-Anyigbe district.
On private vending, Mr Fiebor said four stations had been opened at Dr Letsa Supermarket, Ho Polytechnic, opposite the main lorry park, adding that the ECG intended licensing services at Sokode, the regional hospital junction, Ho Housing Corporation area and Fiave.
He stated that the system would be further extended to the Hohoe Municipality and Aflao by the end of the year.
According to him, there was no special tax on patronising private vending stations and that the rates were of the same value at any vending station.
He said one advantage to the customer was that it helped in the management of energy, adding that the system helped the user or customer to cut down consumption as it informed the consumer with the red light to turn off gadgets before the system was reinforced.
Mr Fiebor who was speaking to the Daily Graphic in Ho, said it also helped the company in the collection of money up front.
He said initially when the system started, fears were generated because every human being feared change and that made the consumers hesitant, but now it had been accepted and had also eliminated instances of disputed bills.
According to Mr Fiebor, the system was now operational in Ho with vending stations at Tarso, the ECG main yard and the Ho main market.
He said steps were underway to extend the system to Sokode in the Ho Municipality, Agotime–Kpetoe and Ziope in the Adaklu-Anyigbe district.
On private vending, Mr Fiebor said four stations had been opened at Dr Letsa Supermarket, Ho Polytechnic, opposite the main lorry park, adding that the ECG intended licensing services at Sokode, the regional hospital junction, Ho Housing Corporation area and Fiave.
He stated that the system would be further extended to the Hohoe Municipality and Aflao by the end of the year.
According to him, there was no special tax on patronising private vending stations and that the rates were of the same value at any vending station.
Monday, May 11, 2009
OPINION LEADER SUPPORTS PRESIDENT'S NOMINEE (PAGE 14)
AN opinion leader in the South Dayi District of the Volta Region, Mr Kofi Sabon Asare, has appealed to President John Evans Atta Mills to re-nominate Mrs Perpetual Praise Annan as the District Chief Executive (DCE) for the district.
He said it was sheer envy by some people to influence assembly members to vote against her, adding that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) should not use the opportunity as a pay day for people they thought they could reward.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr Kofi Sabon said the chiefs and people and all political parties in the district were disappointed and pledged their support to her, adding that such support would go a long way to unite the district and enhance development.
“It will stop partisan politics in the district, since the way NDC are behaving in the district suggests that the lady is going to preside as the DCE for NDC, meanwhile in my view it is not so,” he said.
He said the lady also worked hard towards the success of NDC in the country and should not be rejected on the grounds that she was not known in the area.
According to Mr Sabon, the lady is free and accommodates and tolerates views from opposing sides.
He indicated that opinion leaders from the political divide were solidly behind her because they were of the view that she would become DCE not for NDC but for the people of South Dayi District.
He therefore strongly advocated that the President should re-present her to the district assembly for confirmation, arguing that for those who were lobbying for identified interest groups, “those positions are not given on quota system; we are talking about efficiency and competence”.
Mr Sabon said people must prove their competence, otherwise it would promote laziness on the pretext of being their turn to occupy the position, adding that the chiefs considered the rejection as a disgrace and were of the view that it was too early to engage in such a confrontation with the government.
He said it was sheer envy by some people to influence assembly members to vote against her, adding that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) should not use the opportunity as a pay day for people they thought they could reward.
Speaking to the Daily Graphic, Mr Kofi Sabon said the chiefs and people and all political parties in the district were disappointed and pledged their support to her, adding that such support would go a long way to unite the district and enhance development.
“It will stop partisan politics in the district, since the way NDC are behaving in the district suggests that the lady is going to preside as the DCE for NDC, meanwhile in my view it is not so,” he said.
He said the lady also worked hard towards the success of NDC in the country and should not be rejected on the grounds that she was not known in the area.
According to Mr Sabon, the lady is free and accommodates and tolerates views from opposing sides.
He indicated that opinion leaders from the political divide were solidly behind her because they were of the view that she would become DCE not for NDC but for the people of South Dayi District.
He therefore strongly advocated that the President should re-present her to the district assembly for confirmation, arguing that for those who were lobbying for identified interest groups, “those positions are not given on quota system; we are talking about efficiency and competence”.
Mr Sabon said people must prove their competence, otherwise it would promote laziness on the pretext of being their turn to occupy the position, adding that the chiefs considered the rejection as a disgrace and were of the view that it was too early to engage in such a confrontation with the government.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
GOVERNMENT WILL BE PROACTIVE ON YOUTH ISSUES (PAGE 28)
The Volta Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Amenowode, says the government will be proactive in addressing obstacles to the development of the youth.
He said constraints such as human resource and management skills, technology development and dissemination, infrastructure, market access, irrigation development and management would be tackled with zeal with the view to conscientising the youth in agriculture to lessen their migration to the urban areas in search of non-existent jobs.
Mr Amenowode said this when he addressed a sensitisation forum on the government’s project for youth in agriculture organised by the Volta Region chapter of the Ghana Trade and Livelihood Coalition (GTLC) at Ho last Tuesday.
The forum was aimed at enabling the youth to understand the implications of the government’s budget for 2009 in relation to the youth in agriculture.
The regional minister reaffirmed that the government was more than determined to give agriculture the requisite attention with a view to making it propel the socio-economic development of the nation.
He underscored the need to encourage farmers to diversify by way of cultivating cash crops and rearing of livestock for which they might have comparative advantage aside crop cultivation.
Mr Amenowode commended the GTLC for fashioning out a capacity building programme for women in agriculture, adding that hitherto majority of women had limited access to land, labour and capital due to cultural and institutional factors.
“Women for example cannot provide collateral for credit because they may not have legal ownership of tangible assets,” he said.
In an address, the regional coordinator of the National Youth Council (NYC), Mr Ransford Ocloo, said the youth should broaden their perception on agriculture from the machete and hoe of traditional farming methods to ventures like mushroom farming, snail rearing, fish farming, bee keeping and others, which did not attract very high seed capital.
He said it was time the youth discarded the notion that farming was a form of punishment because they were once punished in schools to weed overgrown grass on their compounds.
In a welcoming address, the regional focal person for GTLC, Reverend Alexander Avor, urged the government to put the necessary infrastructure in place for the youth to engage in fulling scale agribusiness.
He also said there was the need to improve on the economy to produce more food for local consumption and export in order to stabilise the local currency and its value on the world market, rather than importing rice, tomatoes and poultry products into the country, which eventually rendered the youth and women redundant in the production of food for the nation.
Rev. Avor advocated that the government should engage in a dialogue with donor agencies and development partners to support the youth with inputs.
He told participants to see the sensitisation forum and awareness creation as a leverage for the youth to see agribusiness as a lucrative venture and not as a business for school dropouts.
The chairman of the function was the regional officer of the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), Togbe Akliku Ahorney II, who said the participants should endeavour to start their ventures on a small scale, adding that the failure to do so was the bane to the growth from small-scale to medium-scale enterprises in the country.
He said constraints such as human resource and management skills, technology development and dissemination, infrastructure, market access, irrigation development and management would be tackled with zeal with the view to conscientising the youth in agriculture to lessen their migration to the urban areas in search of non-existent jobs.
Mr Amenowode said this when he addressed a sensitisation forum on the government’s project for youth in agriculture organised by the Volta Region chapter of the Ghana Trade and Livelihood Coalition (GTLC) at Ho last Tuesday.
The forum was aimed at enabling the youth to understand the implications of the government’s budget for 2009 in relation to the youth in agriculture.
The regional minister reaffirmed that the government was more than determined to give agriculture the requisite attention with a view to making it propel the socio-economic development of the nation.
He underscored the need to encourage farmers to diversify by way of cultivating cash crops and rearing of livestock for which they might have comparative advantage aside crop cultivation.
Mr Amenowode commended the GTLC for fashioning out a capacity building programme for women in agriculture, adding that hitherto majority of women had limited access to land, labour and capital due to cultural and institutional factors.
“Women for example cannot provide collateral for credit because they may not have legal ownership of tangible assets,” he said.
In an address, the regional coordinator of the National Youth Council (NYC), Mr Ransford Ocloo, said the youth should broaden their perception on agriculture from the machete and hoe of traditional farming methods to ventures like mushroom farming, snail rearing, fish farming, bee keeping and others, which did not attract very high seed capital.
He said it was time the youth discarded the notion that farming was a form of punishment because they were once punished in schools to weed overgrown grass on their compounds.
In a welcoming address, the regional focal person for GTLC, Reverend Alexander Avor, urged the government to put the necessary infrastructure in place for the youth to engage in fulling scale agribusiness.
He also said there was the need to improve on the economy to produce more food for local consumption and export in order to stabilise the local currency and its value on the world market, rather than importing rice, tomatoes and poultry products into the country, which eventually rendered the youth and women redundant in the production of food for the nation.
Rev. Avor advocated that the government should engage in a dialogue with donor agencies and development partners to support the youth with inputs.
He told participants to see the sensitisation forum and awareness creation as a leverage for the youth to see agribusiness as a lucrative venture and not as a business for school dropouts.
The chairman of the function was the regional officer of the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), Togbe Akliku Ahorney II, who said the participants should endeavour to start their ventures on a small scale, adding that the failure to do so was the bane to the growth from small-scale to medium-scale enterprises in the country.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
THE STORY OF EASTERN CORRIDOR...Fallout from 2009 budget (PAGE 40)
IN the road highway parlance, the Eastern corridor is defined as the road network originating from Tema through Kpong to Atimpoku, Asikuma, Peki, Kpeve, Have, Fume, Logba, Ve-Golokwati, Hohoe, Jasikan, Kadjebi, Brewaniase, Nkwanta, Oti-Damanko up to Yendi in the Northern Region and beyond to the Upper East Region.
When this road is fully developed, it will shorten the distance between northern and southern Ghana through Kumasi by 70 kilometres. It will also serve as an alternative route for the socio-economic development of the communities in the Volta, Northern and Upper regions.
More than 20 years ago, that road had been used by politicians to canvas for votes and make promises to develop it but have failed to deliver on their promises. Signboards were mounted by the government of the day at vantage points demonstrating to the people that the project was to start immediately which never happened.
It is a real drudgery to travel on that road because vehicles that travelled on that route were usually trapped in the mud at various points which delayed the carting of foodstuffs, livestock and grains to the marketing centres because they were stranded on the route for days due to the problem of a muddy road.
Communities in the northern sector were marginalised by government officials and politicians during the peak of the rainy season when the road was impassable but managed to visit the people during the yam season apparently to collect gifts of yams, cattle and other food items.
On the other hand, yams and other perishable commodities were left to rot on farms because they could not be conveyed to the marketing centres in the south.
It is really a terrible experience to travel to the northern sector on the eastern corridor because if it is not a dusty road during the dry season, then it is a muddy road during the rainy season and in fact, that attested to the fact that ruling presidents and their entourages preferred to reach the north in aircraft instead of travelling by road and share the pains of the people.
Many children in the north who never had the opportunity to travel down south, have not seen bitumen coated or tarred road before, because it is a deprivation.
Under the road component of the Volta Regional Agricultural Development Project (VORADEP) between 1980 and 1988, there was an attempt to construct the road but specifications described the road as farm access roads and substandard works were delivered.
In 1992, Kassardjan Construction Company, a renowned road construction firm made a breakthrough by beginning a road project from Jasikan to Kadjebi towards the north. The coating of the road was of a more durable material as compared to the past, which brought a sigh of relief to the people.
The project progressed over the years and the second phase undertaken by a Chinese company has reached Dodo-Pepesu in the Kadjebi District.
For now, there is no construction work going on and the drudgery to the north still exists. As the rainy season approaches, many distress calls will soon come from the north, especially between Nkwanta, Kpassa and Damanko to save them from the negative effects of muddy roads.
It is for this reason that the incorporation of the eastern corridor in the 2009 budget cannot pass without comment because in deed, the road is an international highway that will also serve the land-locked nations of the Sahel regions, which clear their imported goods from the Tema port because it is a relatively shorter route to their countries.There is, therefore, the need to develop a road structure that will endure axle load and to fit the type of soil found in the tropical rain forest in order to guide in the selection of the correct materials for surface coating to ensure a durable road.
Over the years, the road was tarred with mere bitumen and within a short time potholes developed to render it impassable.
Currently, except the portion of the road from Tema to Atimpoku, the rest of the road between Atimpoku through Juapong to Asikuma and Kpeve, Hohoe to Jasikan has been coated with inferior materials likely to deteriorate early.
What is, therefore, expected is that, that portion of the road must be re-designed and re-engineered to meet international standards to serve as a true eastern corridor. Moreso, future designs and contracts must specify for asphalt coating surface.
Now that oil has been discovered in the country, planning and development of roads must cease to be mediocre because the residual bitumen that will be produced from the fractional distillation of crude oil would be abundant in the country to facilitate the construction of good roads without any bottlenecks.
In fact, it is time the eastern corridor is accorded the same rating like the Trans-West African highway from Aflao to Elubo and the Accra-Kumasi highway if the nation is desirous of fighting poverty and promoting trade and tourism.
When this road is fully developed, it will shorten the distance between northern and southern Ghana through Kumasi by 70 kilometres. It will also serve as an alternative route for the socio-economic development of the communities in the Volta, Northern and Upper regions.
More than 20 years ago, that road had been used by politicians to canvas for votes and make promises to develop it but have failed to deliver on their promises. Signboards were mounted by the government of the day at vantage points demonstrating to the people that the project was to start immediately which never happened.
It is a real drudgery to travel on that road because vehicles that travelled on that route were usually trapped in the mud at various points which delayed the carting of foodstuffs, livestock and grains to the marketing centres because they were stranded on the route for days due to the problem of a muddy road.
Communities in the northern sector were marginalised by government officials and politicians during the peak of the rainy season when the road was impassable but managed to visit the people during the yam season apparently to collect gifts of yams, cattle and other food items.
On the other hand, yams and other perishable commodities were left to rot on farms because they could not be conveyed to the marketing centres in the south.
It is really a terrible experience to travel to the northern sector on the eastern corridor because if it is not a dusty road during the dry season, then it is a muddy road during the rainy season and in fact, that attested to the fact that ruling presidents and their entourages preferred to reach the north in aircraft instead of travelling by road and share the pains of the people.
Many children in the north who never had the opportunity to travel down south, have not seen bitumen coated or tarred road before, because it is a deprivation.
Under the road component of the Volta Regional Agricultural Development Project (VORADEP) between 1980 and 1988, there was an attempt to construct the road but specifications described the road as farm access roads and substandard works were delivered.
In 1992, Kassardjan Construction Company, a renowned road construction firm made a breakthrough by beginning a road project from Jasikan to Kadjebi towards the north. The coating of the road was of a more durable material as compared to the past, which brought a sigh of relief to the people.
The project progressed over the years and the second phase undertaken by a Chinese company has reached Dodo-Pepesu in the Kadjebi District.
For now, there is no construction work going on and the drudgery to the north still exists. As the rainy season approaches, many distress calls will soon come from the north, especially between Nkwanta, Kpassa and Damanko to save them from the negative effects of muddy roads.
It is for this reason that the incorporation of the eastern corridor in the 2009 budget cannot pass without comment because in deed, the road is an international highway that will also serve the land-locked nations of the Sahel regions, which clear their imported goods from the Tema port because it is a relatively shorter route to their countries.There is, therefore, the need to develop a road structure that will endure axle load and to fit the type of soil found in the tropical rain forest in order to guide in the selection of the correct materials for surface coating to ensure a durable road.
Over the years, the road was tarred with mere bitumen and within a short time potholes developed to render it impassable.
Currently, except the portion of the road from Tema to Atimpoku, the rest of the road between Atimpoku through Juapong to Asikuma and Kpeve, Hohoe to Jasikan has been coated with inferior materials likely to deteriorate early.
What is, therefore, expected is that, that portion of the road must be re-designed and re-engineered to meet international standards to serve as a true eastern corridor. Moreso, future designs and contracts must specify for asphalt coating surface.
Now that oil has been discovered in the country, planning and development of roads must cease to be mediocre because the residual bitumen that will be produced from the fractional distillation of crude oil would be abundant in the country to facilitate the construction of good roads without any bottlenecks.
In fact, it is time the eastern corridor is accorded the same rating like the Trans-West African highway from Aflao to Elubo and the Accra-Kumasi highway if the nation is desirous of fighting poverty and promoting trade and tourism.
HO DIOCESE CYO HOLDS JAMBOREE (PAGE 44)
A Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr Fiifi Kwetey, has urged the youth to secure the type of education that will prepare them to become agents of national transformation.
Addressing a jamboree of the Christian Youth Organisation (CYO) of the Catholic Church in the Ho Diocese at Agotime-Kpetoe, Mr Kwetey said there was strong correlation between good education and personal as well as national development.
He said it was, therefore, imperative for the youth to make sacrifices to obtain good education since it would enable them to lay the foundation for a better life in future.
The deputy minister said there would be difficulties but the youth should cultivate the spirit of determination to overcome the difficulties in their efforts to realise their dreams.
He said the youth constituted the necessary human resource for the country to prosper and, therefore, asked them to lead disciplined lives for a better tomorrow and the achievement of real freedom.
In an address, the Minister of Tourism, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, advised the youth to eschew vices such as drug abuse, teenage pregnancy and alcoholism because these could adversely affect their future.
She said the call for a youth policy was in the right direction but underscored the need for the youth to use their energies constructively and productively.
The Catholic Bishop of Ho Diocese, Most Reverend Francis Anani Kofi Lodonu, advised the youth against laziness and waiting under trees to drink palm wine.
He said the CYO jamboree should be an occasion to refresh their minds, rekindle their enthusiasm and keep abreast of their rights, privileges and responsibilities.
In a welcoming address, the Diocesan CYO Chairman, Mr John Ahorsu, said the lack of good leadership was the bane to progress in many parishes and that the CYO would be reformed and its activities intensified.
Addressing a jamboree of the Christian Youth Organisation (CYO) of the Catholic Church in the Ho Diocese at Agotime-Kpetoe, Mr Kwetey said there was strong correlation between good education and personal as well as national development.
He said it was, therefore, imperative for the youth to make sacrifices to obtain good education since it would enable them to lay the foundation for a better life in future.
The deputy minister said there would be difficulties but the youth should cultivate the spirit of determination to overcome the difficulties in their efforts to realise their dreams.
He said the youth constituted the necessary human resource for the country to prosper and, therefore, asked them to lead disciplined lives for a better tomorrow and the achievement of real freedom.
In an address, the Minister of Tourism, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, advised the youth to eschew vices such as drug abuse, teenage pregnancy and alcoholism because these could adversely affect their future.
She said the call for a youth policy was in the right direction but underscored the need for the youth to use their energies constructively and productively.
The Catholic Bishop of Ho Diocese, Most Reverend Francis Anani Kofi Lodonu, advised the youth against laziness and waiting under trees to drink palm wine.
He said the CYO jamboree should be an occasion to refresh their minds, rekindle their enthusiasm and keep abreast of their rights, privileges and responsibilities.
In a welcoming address, the Diocesan CYO Chairman, Mr John Ahorsu, said the lack of good leadership was the bane to progress in many parishes and that the CYO would be reformed and its activities intensified.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
CONTROVERSY PVER SITING OF CAPITAL ALMOST OVER (PAGE 16)
The controversy over the siting of the capital for the Adaklu–Anyigbe District at Agotime- Kpetoe is almost over as three assembly members from the Adaklu Traditional Area who had boycotted the assembly from the beginning have rescinded their decision.
Consequently, one of them, the assembly member for Adaklu-Waya, Mr Prosper Delali Fu, has been sworn in by the Ho Municipal Magistrate, Mr Yaw Sarpong, where he took part in the confirmation exercise of the District Chief Executive (DCE).
The new DCE, an Assistant Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Michael Komla Adzaho, was unanimously confirmed by the 13 assembly members present last week.
Madam Florence Sedode, the sole candidate, was similarly endorsed by the assembly to replace Mr Francis Kwaku as its Presiding Member.
In a post election speech, Mr Adzaho assured the assembly members present of hard work, transparency and accountability, and promised to tackle issues of sanitation, feeder roads, mobilisation of revenue and the fair distribution of development projects among the three traditional areas.
For her part, Madam Sedode thanked the assembly members for the confidence reposed in her.
In an address, the Minister of Tourism, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, commended the assembly members for electing a woman as their presiding member, adding that it was in line with gender equity and balance in the body politics of the nation.
She also thanked the members for voting overwhelmingly for the new DCE to spearhead the development process of the district.
The outgoing Presiding Member, Mr Francis Kwaku, praised members, traditional authorities and heads of various departments for the immense support they offered during his tenure, adding, “ your honour and respect was honourable”.
At the South-Dayi District Assembly, Madam Perpetual Grace Annan was rejected. She polled four out of the 17 votes cast.
At Adidome, Alhaji Dziadu Bubey polled 57 against two votes to be sworn in as the DCE for the North Tongu District Assembly while Mr Kofi Dekpor polled 49 votes to become the Presiding Member.
Present were the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Colonel Cyril Necku(rtd), and the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu.
Consequently, one of them, the assembly member for Adaklu-Waya, Mr Prosper Delali Fu, has been sworn in by the Ho Municipal Magistrate, Mr Yaw Sarpong, where he took part in the confirmation exercise of the District Chief Executive (DCE).
The new DCE, an Assistant Director of the Ghana Education Service (GES), Mr Michael Komla Adzaho, was unanimously confirmed by the 13 assembly members present last week.
Madam Florence Sedode, the sole candidate, was similarly endorsed by the assembly to replace Mr Francis Kwaku as its Presiding Member.
In a post election speech, Mr Adzaho assured the assembly members present of hard work, transparency and accountability, and promised to tackle issues of sanitation, feeder roads, mobilisation of revenue and the fair distribution of development projects among the three traditional areas.
For her part, Madam Sedode thanked the assembly members for the confidence reposed in her.
In an address, the Minister of Tourism, Mrs Juliana Azumah-Mensah, commended the assembly members for electing a woman as their presiding member, adding that it was in line with gender equity and balance in the body politics of the nation.
She also thanked the members for voting overwhelmingly for the new DCE to spearhead the development process of the district.
The outgoing Presiding Member, Mr Francis Kwaku, praised members, traditional authorities and heads of various departments for the immense support they offered during his tenure, adding, “ your honour and respect was honourable”.
At the South-Dayi District Assembly, Madam Perpetual Grace Annan was rejected. She polled four out of the 17 votes cast.
At Adidome, Alhaji Dziadu Bubey polled 57 against two votes to be sworn in as the DCE for the North Tongu District Assembly while Mr Kofi Dekpor polled 49 votes to become the Presiding Member.
Present were the Deputy Volta Regional Minister, Colonel Cyril Necku(rtd), and the Minister of Roads and Highways, Mr Joe Gidisu.
MAKE FETILISER FREE FOR FARMERS...Government urged (BACK PAGE)
THE 1998 second national best farmer, Mr Nicholas Fatoh, has called on the government to make fertiliser free for farmers to help achieve the nation’s agricultural objectives.
He said the previous government offered a subsidy of 50 per cent on fertiliser at a time the world price of crude oil had risen to $150 per barrel.
Now that the price of crude oil had reduced to $50, it should be possible for farmers to get a better deal, he noted.
“In my view, with the prevailing price, fertiliser could be supplied for virtually free to farmers to boost agricultural production,” he stated.
Mr Fatoh was speaking to the Daily Graphic on prospects and challenges of agriculture in the Volta Region as the farming season approaches.
The rainfall pattern looked promising, he stated, adding that with all things being equal it could be a good farming season if the necessary inputs were made available on time.
He, however, cautioned against the proliferation of Farmer-Based Organisations (FBOs) some of which he said were not properly organised to operate in the interest of farmers.
Mr Fatoh, who was also the best Volta Regional farmer in 1985, said another challenge facing farmers in the country was marketing and suggested that warehouses should be constructed in every region to preserve surplus food.
He urged the government to check the influx of foreign chemicals and identify them to eliminate those that were toxic to the soil.
Another prominent commercial farmer who spoke to the Daily Graphic on condition of anonymity alleged that fertiliser subsidy had opened the doors for some people to extort money from farmers, adding that it had created artificial shortage and that agricultural extension officers kept on giving flimsy excuses.
He said most people involved in agricultural production lived in abject poverty due to the lack of marketing for agricultural products, which left farmers at the mercy of middlemen who behaved as if the products had no cost of production.
Meanwhile, a survey conducted by the Daily Graphic indicated that many farmers had cleared their lands and were preparing them in readiness for the season.
He said the previous government offered a subsidy of 50 per cent on fertiliser at a time the world price of crude oil had risen to $150 per barrel.
Now that the price of crude oil had reduced to $50, it should be possible for farmers to get a better deal, he noted.
“In my view, with the prevailing price, fertiliser could be supplied for virtually free to farmers to boost agricultural production,” he stated.
Mr Fatoh was speaking to the Daily Graphic on prospects and challenges of agriculture in the Volta Region as the farming season approaches.
The rainfall pattern looked promising, he stated, adding that with all things being equal it could be a good farming season if the necessary inputs were made available on time.
He, however, cautioned against the proliferation of Farmer-Based Organisations (FBOs) some of which he said were not properly organised to operate in the interest of farmers.
Mr Fatoh, who was also the best Volta Regional farmer in 1985, said another challenge facing farmers in the country was marketing and suggested that warehouses should be constructed in every region to preserve surplus food.
He urged the government to check the influx of foreign chemicals and identify them to eliminate those that were toxic to the soil.
Another prominent commercial farmer who spoke to the Daily Graphic on condition of anonymity alleged that fertiliser subsidy had opened the doors for some people to extort money from farmers, adding that it had created artificial shortage and that agricultural extension officers kept on giving flimsy excuses.
He said most people involved in agricultural production lived in abject poverty due to the lack of marketing for agricultural products, which left farmers at the mercy of middlemen who behaved as if the products had no cost of production.
Meanwhile, a survey conducted by the Daily Graphic indicated that many farmers had cleared their lands and were preparing them in readiness for the season.
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