Government to deliver on campaign promises

Ghanaian contractors asked to quote realistic rates

Mr Michael Aidoo, National Chairman of Progressive Road Contractors Association, has advised contractors to quote pragmatic rates in bidding procedures to avoid unwarranted financial pressures to enable them to deliver quality work.

He said quoting unrealistic rates mostly contributed to shoddy works, as low rates face rigid competition from market forces.

Mr Aidoo made the call at the Annual General Meeting of the Volta Region Chapter of the Association, in Ho.

He said delay in payment by government of works executed has negatively affected the construction industry.

Mr Aidoo said high interest rate on loans was also a major drawback to the industry and explained that the more payments are delayed, the more interest rate accumulates, claiming “it looks like contractors are only working for the banks.”

He called on contractors to unite and tackle the numerous challenges confronting the industry.

Mr Castro Dela Ahorsu, Chairman of the Association, was re-elected to head the group for another three-year term.

Other executive members are Mr Ben Boankra, Vice Chairman; Mr Nelson Agbeko, Treasurer; Mr Winfred Kudzordzi, Secretary and Mr Dolyn Hokey, Organiser.

Mr Ahorsu thanked members for the trust reposed in him and pledged to work assiduously to uplift the image of the Association.

He said that the Association would establishment a welfare fund to assist members and appealed to financial institutions to reduce their interest rates on loans.

Source: GNA

Government to deliver on its campaign promises

Mr Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, Deputy Minister of Local Government and Rural Administration, has said that the Government was poised on fulfilling its campaign promises and operate governance style that would be unequal in the annals of Ghana s history.

He said “with the economic chips falling into rightful places after alleged eight years of reckless mismanagement by the Kufuor-led administration, a “Better Ghana” agenda was within reach.”

Mr Afriyie-Ankrah gave the assurance at the inauguration of eight development projects financed through the District Development Facility (DDF), at Kpando, in the Kpando District.

He debunked the assertion that nothing was being done by the Government and said that a dormant leadership style could not have facilitated a drop from the 22 percent inflationary rate it inherited from the New Patriotic Party to 9.52 percent.

Mr Afriyie-Ankrah said it was obvious that a government that succeeded a debt portfolio of over 100 trillion regarding the Tema Oil Refinery, contributing about 41 trillion to the debt stock, would be described as go-slow.

He enumerated block farming, rice production, increase in the road fund, subsidy for fertilizer and distribution of school uniform and exercise books to school children as some of the achievements of government.

Others were one-time payment of the National Health Insurance Scheme, paying arrears of Ghana Railway workers, prompt payment of salaries of newly recruited teachers and nurses in addition to massive infrastructure development.

Mr Afriyie-Ankrah said government was on course called on the people to focus on the positive things rather than the few slips.

He said that it was becoming clearer that the leadership qualities of President Mills would propel the economy into the next level.

Source: GNA

Ghana Armed Forces rekindles lost ceremony

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), at the weekend took a bold step to rekindle one of its almost lost traditions, “Beating the Retreat”, with a magnificent pageant of military music, precision drills and colour at the Ghana Military Academy (GMA) Parade grounds.

The ceremony was characterised by the delivery of spirited marches as well as poignant and evocative hymns and a medley of songs of special significance by the massed bands of the Army, Navy and Airforce.

It drew an impressive turnout of both serving and retired military personnel, bedecked in flamboyant service garb, as well as civilians who applauded spiritedly, with some retired officers expressing nostalgia about the event.

The occasion forms part of activities marking the Golden Jubilee Anniversary of the GMA.

“Beating the Retreat” is among the oldest of military ceremonies believed to have its beginnings from ancient warfare.

Originally known as “Watch Setting”, it was initiated at sunset by the firing of a single round from the evening gun to recall troops from engagements or pull a halt to a days fighting, a return to camp and mounting of the guard for the night.

Commodore Steve Obimpeh, a retired naval officer and senior advisor to the President, observed that Ghana was a country of rich cultural heritage that had always acknowledged the role it ancestors played in its history.

He said that same cultural heritage that embraced military traditions like the “Beating the Retreat” had ensured the cohesion and esprit-de-corps among service personnel.

Cmdr Obimpeh noted that it was not for nothing that the term “military precision” had become synonymous with everything that went according to plan.

He said that the military does not brook mediocrity in the conduct of its operations because it was founded on a tradition of excellence.

Cmdr Obimpeh said “It is now up to those of us here to uphold this noble military culture, by ferreting out and reviving all seemingly insignificant traditions that play a vital role in inculcating in the officer or man, the desired military values.

“It is up to us, indeed, to shed the feeling of aloofness, that has gradually creep upon us when it comes to military ceremonies…We need to remain faithful to the cause of our profession and showcase its pomp and pageantry at every opportunity, because that is what defines our unique institution”.

Other planned activities to mark the 50 years of the GMA include an anniversary ball and Awards Night on the August 27, 2010 at the banquet hall, where alumni deserving of recognition for achievement in various fields of endeavour would be duly honoured.

A panel discussion on the topic “Turning out Quality Military Leaders for the 21st Century. A Reappraisal of Leadership Training”, to be handled by prominent academicians and senior retired officers would also be held at the Burma hall on September 1, 2010.

The event would be chaired by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is an alumnus of the GMA.

The climax of the celebration would be the Golden Jubilee Graduation Parade at the GMA parade grounds on September 3, 2010 and a non-denominational church service at the Burma hall on September 5, 2010.

Source: GNA

More than 50,000 timber workers to lose jobs

More than 50,000 employees of the timber industry in Ghana would lose their jobs as a result of the recent upward adjustment of utility tariffs.

This is contained in a joint press statement signed by the Executive Secretary of the Ghana Timber Millers Organisation (GTMO), Mr E.E.K. Acquah Moses and the General Secretary of the Timber Workers Union (TWU), Mr Joshua Ansah, and issued in Kumasi.

It said it was not possible for the industry, Ghana’s fourth foreign exchange earner with receipts averaging 180 million Euro annually, to survive the nearly 200 per cent electricity charges.

The statement said that energy charge for this category has shot up to GH¢27.00 from GH¢9.05, meaning that companies which hitherto paid GH¢100,000 would now pay nearly GH¢300,000.

It said this would have drastic impact on the companies since Ghana contributes only one per cent to the international market regarding tropical timber and there was no way they could pass on the increases in local cost to the market.

The statement said it was important to reckon that any further increase of sawmill lumber on the domestic market occasioned by increases in electricity traffic would worsen the already destructive activities of chainsaw operators.

It said complained of high and prohibitive bank lending rate, resulting in low investment, which was affecting value addition and diffusion of technology to enhance efficiency and productivity.

The statement said that the inability to access long-term capital at reasonable interest rate was a big challenge to expansion needed to generate benefits from economies of scale and create the critical mass required for competitiveness on the global market.

It said faced with these grim realities, the only option was for the timber organisations to shut down and throw workers on the streets.

The statement said that to prevent this from happening “we call on government to reconsider the Public Utility Regulatory Commission (PURC) tariff increment which is unhelpful to industry growth.

“We believe that government energies should be directed at growing the private sector by the provision of policies and interventions that will support industrial expansion, re-investment of profits and payment of taxes to the State for the provision of public amenities”.

The statement called on government to prevail on the financial institutions to reduce interest rates on loans to help entrepreneurs to borrow and invest in the manufacturing sector of the economy.

Source: GNA

Let’s cement bond of relationship between Brazil and Ghana – Ambassador

Mr Luis Fernando Serra, Brazil Ambassador to Ghana, has underscored the need to cement the bond of friendship between the two nations for the mutual benefit of their nationals.

He made the call at the weekend when he and some officers of a Brazilian Naval Vessel, “Corvette Barroso,” currently at berth at the Tema Harbour, paid a courtesy call on Osonga Nii Adjei Kraku II, Tema Manste, at his palace at Tema New Town.

Mr Serra recounted that the cordial relationships between his country and Ghana dates back to 1836 when the first Brazilians who traveled to Ghana were hosted by the Gas and thank the Gas for the warm reception.

Commander Luiz Roberto Cavalcanti Valicente, Captain of the Ship, presented two bottles of Brazilian Schnapps to the Tema Traditional Council.

Osonga Kraku commended the crew for the gesture, and presented a miniature stool of the traditional council to the team.

Commodore A K Addison, Flag Officer Commanding the Eastern Naval Base or Command, led the delegation to the palace.

Source: GNA

Ex-convict jailed for stealing phone

Darlington Afriyie, an ex-convict, was on Friday sentenced to 18 months imprisonment in hard labour by the Koforidua District “A” Court for stealing a mobile phone.

Afriyie pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful entry and stealing.

Police Inspector Eric Twum-Frimpong told the court presided over by Mr Sulemana Musa that the complainant is a carpenter at Abogri-Adweso, a suburb of Koforidua.

He said on July 13 at about 0730 hours, Afriyie visited a friend at Abogri near the complainant’s house and stole his mobile phone valued at GHC 90 and took to his heels.    .

Insp. Eric Twum-Frimpong said Afriyie was chased and arrested with the phone in his possession.

The prosecution said Afriyie admitted the offence at the Police Station.

Source: GNA

Ghana’s Petroleum Management Bill is not original – Ayamdoo

Mr Charles Ayamdoo, Director of Anti-Corruption,  Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice,(CHRAJ), has described Ghana’s Petroleum Revenue Management Bill (PRMB) as the “cut and paste” versions from international best practice laws on oil management.

He said the bill in its current form, does not address the peculiar challenges of Ghanaian societies as it ought to do.

“Rather it seeks to respond to international requirements in the management of oil revenue, thus overshadowing the provisions on local content, which should have been higher.”

Mr Ayamdoo said this, when he presented a paper, on the assessment of the preliminary proposal by the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning, on the PRMB, at a civil society forum, organised by Publish What You Pay, Ghana, in Accra, at the weekend.

Publish What You Pay, Ghana, is a group of about 20 civil society organizations, engaged in advocacy in the areas of oil exploration, mining and revenue management in Ghana.

Mr Ayamdoo, said even though the incorporation of international best practice provisions in the PRMB was not out of place, the factors peculiar to situations in Ghana must largely inform the formulation of the PRMB so that it identifies with local exigencies.

He also criticised the clauses in the bill that declared certain information confidential but could be released five years after a request had been made for it, saying by that time, that information might not be relevant.

He cited Sao Tome and Principe, which adopted international best practices in its mineral revenue management law, in addition to other provisions, that safeguarded transparency and addressed the peculiar socio-economic needs of her people.

Mr Ayamdoo, therefore, proposed that there be increased transparency and access to information on the exploration and exploratory contracts, as well as the management of the revenue that would accrue from the sector, to reduce corruption.

He said in addition to the Finance and Public Accounts Committees of Parliament, there should also be a public oversight body whose capacities would be enhanced to co-exist with the committees to complement one another to check the operations of the sector to prevent waste and the leakage of oil revenue.

He said the bill should provide a more transparent budget-making process to offer civil society organizations the opportunity to participate and make their input into it.

He also proposed the establishment of a Ghana Petroleum Fund to moderate and monitor spending, as well as to compel the government to spend on development priorities, and to save and invest the oil wealth prudently to guarantee that future generations benefit from that natural resource.

Civil society members who attended the forum could not agree on whether or not the government should invest part of the oil revenue in heritage funds to benefit generations unborn.

Some argued that all the revenue be invested in infrastructural and other social needs for the benefits to trickle down to all.

Dr Steve Manteaw, Convenor of Publish What You Pay, Ghana, said it would put the views expressed at the forum into a document as the stance of civil society organisations and present it to the government.

Source: GNA